A man accused of a series of violent knife attacks, including a mass stabbing on a busy intercity train, has refused to appear in court for his hearing.
Charges and Alleged Attacks
Anthony Williams, aged 32, faces extremely serious charges following incidents across late October and early November. He is accused of attempting to murder ten people during a horrific attack aboard an LNER service travelling from Doncaster to London on 1 November. The violence left eleven individuals requiring hospital treatment.
Further charges relate to an alleged attempt to murder a 17-year-old on a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train in east London. Williams is also charged with several other knife attacks in Peterborough on 31 October, which reportedly targeted a 14-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man.
Court No-Show and Trial Date
Williams failed to attend his scheduled hearing at Cambridge Crown Court. As a result of his non-appearance, a judge has set a provisional trial date for 22 June 2026. The legal process will now move forward towards that date.
Heroic Actions and Internal Review
During the chaotic events on the LNER train, the driver, Andrew Johnson, has been widely credited with helping to stop the attack. After passengers activated emergency alarms, Mr Johnson requested and executed an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, allowing emergency services to swiftly intervene.
In the aftermath, Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed they have commissioned an internal review. This will examine the events leading up to the mass stabbing on the train service to understand if any opportunities for earlier intervention were missed.
The case continues to send shockwaves through the communities affected, with a long wait now expected for the trial to begin next year.
