11 people were stabbed in London on Saturday evening after a knife-wielding man attacked a group of passengers on a train. The mass stabbing incident led to the arrest of a 32-year-old man, whom U.K. police identified as Anthony Williams, who has since been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder.
The terrifying incident unfolded aboard a train travelling from Doncaster to London. Reports say the man abruptly began attacking passengers, igniting panic. Authorities said emergency calls started pouring in shortly after the train departed from Peterborough. Within minutes, police and medical teams were dispatched, and the train made an emergency stop in the town of Huntingdon, where Williams was detained.
According to British Transport Police, Williams faces ten counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm, and one charge of possessing a bladed article. Investigators also linked him to a separate knife attack earlier that same day at the Pontoon Dock light rail station in London. In that incident, a victim was left with facial injuries after being assaulted by a man who then fled the scene.
Police say the train stabbings are being investigated as an act of terrorism. Officials initially detained a second man, but he was later released, and police confirmed that no other suspects were involved in the incident.
Emergency responders described chaotic scenes on the train, with several passengers injured as they scrambled to escape the attacker. Eleven people were taken to the hospital, including a railway staff member who sustained critical injuries while trying to stop the assault. Police have described his intervention as “nothing short of heroic.” Four other victims remained hospitalised on Monday.
Williams appeared briefly at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, wearing a grey prison tracksuit and handcuffs. He was flanked by four security officers as the charges were read. The court ordered him to remain in custody until his next hearing on December 1, where prosecutors are expected to upgrade the charges following the severity of the injuries.
According to authorities, the mass stabbing seemed to be an isolated incident. However, measures were taken to amp up security at major train stations across the U.K.
Additionally, authorities released security footage of the armed suspect storming into a barbershop the day before the incident. Williams was armed with a long knife around 7:30 p.m. on Friday when he entered the business place and proceeded to shout at the occupants. His presence caused panic inside the barbershop as employees and customers ran for safety.
