A man entered a plea of not guilty for allegedly trying to murder ten individuals aboard a crowded train.
Anthony Williams, aged 32, was apprehended in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, following an incident on an LNER train traveling from Doncaster to London on November 1. He appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on the same day and refuted a total of 21 charges.
Williams is facing ten charges of attempted murder, one of causing bodily harm, and one of possessing a bladed weapon in connection with the train assault. Additionally, he is accused of attempting to murder a 17-year-old on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock in London on the same day.
Furthermore, Williams is accused of trying to kill a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough on October 31, as well as attempting to murder a 22-year-old man in the city on the same day.
Another charge against Williams is for causing a disturbance at Ritzy’s Barbers in the town on October 31. He is also alleged to have stolen a set of knives valued at £15 from an Asda store in Stevenage.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that the incidents involving attempted murder and assault occurred around 7pm on October 31. The disturbance at the barbershop reportedly took place at approximately 7.20pm, while the theft was said to have happened around 10.30pm.
According to Prosecutor Faye Rolfe, the alleged assault happened around 7am on November 1, leading to an armed police response at Huntingdon station on the same day.
Reports indicate that a knife-wielding individual boarded the train at Peterborough and initiated the assault shortly after departure at approximately 7.30pm. Witnesses described how passengers were trampled as screams echoed through the train, with some seeking refuge in the restrooms.
Initially mistaken for a Halloween prank, the situation quickly turned grim, leaving one witness drenched in blood. Subsequently, 11 individuals sustained serious injuries during the stabbing incident and were promptly taken to hospitals for urgent care. Williams has been detained pending a trial scheduled for October 26.
