King Charles III has personally honoured the courageous passengers and rail staff who confronted a violent knifeman during a terrifying attack on a train last month. The monarch hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to thank those who displayed extraordinary bravery.
Confronting Terror on the Tracks
The incident unfolded on the evening of Wednesday, November 1, aboard a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross. A 32-year-old man, Anthony Williams, allegedly launched a frenzied knife attack, sending passengers into a state of panic.
Train guard Samir Zitouni was on duty that night and heroically intervened. With no conventional weapon to hand, Mr Zitouni reportedly grabbed a frying pan from the buffet carriage kitchen to stop the assailant from reaching other passengers. He placed himself directly in harm's way, an act that ultimately saved lives but resulted in him sustaining life-threatening stab wounds. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Also recognised was LNER train driver Andrew Johnson, a former Royal Navy serviceman. Upon being alerted to the chaos unfolding in the carriages behind him, Mr Johnson took swift and decisive action. He rapidly diverted the London-bound train to Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire, a move that enabled emergency services to reach the scene and provide critical aid without delay.
A Palace Tribute to Remarkable Bravery
At the Buckingham Palace reception, King Charles warmly shook hands with Mr Zitouni and his wife, Eleni Sakkoulei, as well as with Mr Johnson and his partner, Abbie Northfield. The Palace stated that all attendees had shown "particular bravery" during the traumatic event.
Among the other guests was passenger Stephen Crean, 61, who was stabbed seven times after confronting the attacker armed with nothing but his fists. Mr Crean, who attended with his wife Monludee (Amy), later said he acted because "it did not dawn on me not to" try and protect others. He described how the attacker shouted "Do you want to die?" during the assault.
The gathering also included other brave individuals involved: Christina Jones, Michael Gawthorpe, and Kevin Deeley, who were all praised for their actions.
Commendations and Legal Proceedings
David Horne, Managing Director of LNER, had previously commended Andrew Johnson's response, stating his actions were "testament to the expertise and skills he has built over his career, both on the railway and in the military." He also expressed gratitude to all onboard colleagues and station staff involved.
Anthony Williams remains in custody and has been charged with ten counts of attempted murder in connection with the Huntingdon train incident. He also faces a charge of possession of a bladed article on November 1, alongside several other alleged offences preceding the attack. Further court hearings are scheduled for the coming year.
The reception at the Palace served as a powerful national thank you, highlighting how ordinary people displayed extraordinary courage under extreme pressure, preventing an even greater tragedy.
