British prosecutors have charged Anthony Williams, 32, with multiple counts of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on a train from Doncaster to London on Saturday. The charges include 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of possession of a bladed article.
Williams has also been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident at Pontoon Dock station on the London Underground earlier that day. He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday, where he was ordered detained until his next hearing on December 1.
Police are investigating possible links between Williams and three other incidents in the Peterborough area. These include reports of a man with a knife at a barber shop on Friday evening and a stabbing of a 14-year-old boy on Friday night, who was treated for minor injuries.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Tracy Easton stated that the Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with British Transport Police to review evidence, including CCTV, and determined there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial. The number of charges will be kept under review.
The stabbing spree on the train caused panic among passengers, with bloodied travellers fleeing the attacker. The most seriously wounded victim is a railway staff member who attempted to intervene. The suspect was arrested when the train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon. Police are not treating the stabbings as an act of terror.
