Police are investigating a mass stabbing on a high-speed LNER train in Cambridgeshire and now probing four other knife incidents allegedly occurring hours earlier on Saturday. Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and related offenses.

Williams appeared in court on Monday, facing:

• 10 counts of attempted murder for the train stabbings (from Doncaster to London),

• 1 additional count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article for an attack at Pontoon Dock station (Docklands Light Railway, east London) on Saturday morning,

• 1 count of actual bodily harm for assaulting a police officer in custody, breaking the officer’s nose.

Court documents allege Williams used a large kitchen knife in both the train and DLR attacks.

Timeline of Incidents

• 12:46 am Saturday: British Transport Police (BTP) received report of a facial stabbing at Pontoon Dock.

• 7:10 pm Friday: A 14-year-old boy was stabbed (minor injuries) in Peterborough city centre.

• 7:25 pm Friday: Man seen with a knife at a barber’s in Fletton, Peterborough (reported at 9:10 pm). Cambridgeshire police logged the crime but did not dispatch officers.

• 9:25 am Saturday: Police called back to the same barber’s but found no suspect upon arrival (18 minutes later).

Cambridgeshire police are reviewing all incidents within this period for links. BTP leads the overall investigation, voluntarily referred to the IOPC for independent oversight.

Train Attack: Victims and Heroes

The 6:25 pm LNER service was diverted to Huntingdon after the attack was reported at 7:42 pm. Williams was arrested within eight minutes of police arrival.

• 11 victims treated in hospital.

• 5 remain hospitalized, including a train guard hailed as a hero.

• The guard confronted the attacker, sustaining grievous injuries but remaining critical yet stable. CCTV confirms his actions saved lives.

• Jonathan Gjoshe, 22, a Scunthorpe United footballer, was slashed across the bicep and required arm surgery (non-life-threatening).

• Stephen Crean, 61, a Nottingham Forest fan, was stabbed six times (head and hand) after confronting the attacker despite warnings. He locked himself in a bathroom until armed police arrived, stating he acted to protect others.

• Driver Andrew Johnson, a Royal Navy veteran, was praised for quickly diverting the train to enable rapid police response.

Official Response

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commended the bravery of police, emergency services, train staff, and passengers in the House of Commons, spotlighting the train guard’s heroism.

• BTP has increased patrols at key transport hubs but assesses the attack as isolated.

• The government has ruled out routine knife arches at rail stations.

• Williams was remanded in custody and will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.

• He was not known to security services, counter-terrorism police, or the Prevent program.

Discussion continues on enhancing public safety measures.