British prosecutors have charged a 32-year-old man with ten counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing on a London-bound train left multiple passengers injured on Saturday evening. The attack has been described as one of the most serious incidents on the UK rail network in recent years.
The Incident
On Saturday, 1 November 2025, chaos erupted aboard an LNER service traveling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross when a man armed with a knife launched a sudden attack on passengers as the train passed through Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers fled through carriages to escape the assailant.
The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon Station, where armed police boarded and arrested the suspect. Emergency services treated multiple victims at the scene before transferring them to nearby hospitals.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The suspect, identified as Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has been charged with:
- Ten counts of attempted murder
- One count of actual bodily harm
- One count of possession of a bladed article
British Transport Police confirmed that Williams is also accused of a separate attempted murder earlier the same day at a London transit station. He is due to appear before magistrates in Cambridge on Monday.
Victims and Response
Authorities reported that 11 people were injured, with at least one passenger in critical condition. Others sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A rail worker has been praised for his “heroic intervention”, attempting to restrain the attacker and prevent further harm.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “deeply concerning” and commended the swift response of emergency services.
Wider Context
The attack has reignited debate over knife crime in the UK, which has been rising steadily in recent years. Campaigners are calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws and expanded prevention programmes.
Rail operators have pledged to review onboard security measures, while police have increased patrols at major stations in the wake of the attack.
This case is expected to draw significant public and legal scrutiny as it proceeds through the courts.
UK Police Picture from rawpixel
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