Police Examine Wider Links After Shocking Train Knife Attacks
Police are investigating potential connections between a suspect in a violent knife attack on a Cambridgeshire train and several other recent incidents, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy the day before.
Anthony Williams, 32, has appeared in court facing 11 counts of attempted murder. The charges relate to an attack on passengers aboard a train on Saturday evening, as well as another knife-related incident in London earlier that same day. He is also accused of two counts of possessing a bladed article and one count of actual bodily harm.
Officers are now exploring whether Williams may be linked to three further violent episodes, including the serious assault on a teenager on Friday. The investigation is ongoing as authorities attempt to determine whether these incidents form part of a wider pattern of behaviour.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that Williams had not been on the radar of security services. She commended the “heroic acts” of ordinary passengers and members of the train crew who intervened during the attack, potentially preventing further harm.
An image obtained by the BBC reportedly shows Williams in a barber’s shop on Friday night, a day before the alleged spree of attacks unfolded. Accounts from witnesses paint a frightening picture of chaos and courage. One man, who tried to stop the assailant, told the BBC’s Lucy Manning that his hand was “sliced” during a struggle, saying, “He’s gone for me and there was a tussle.”
In another distressing detail, Scunthorpe United footballer Jonathan Gjoshe is said to have been wounded during the incident on board the train, suffering a slash to his bicep, the club has confirmed.
Williams has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court again as investigations continue into whether he played a role in other recent acts of violence.
