Train attacker asked victim 'do you want to die?', court hears

The trial of Anthony Williams, 33, has begun at Cambridge Crown Court in England. He is accused of 14 counts of attempted murder committed on 31 October and 1 November 2025 in Peterborough, on a train between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, and in east London. Williams, who lives in Peterborough, denies the charges.

The train attack

Opening the prosecution case, Christopher Paxton KC said passengers on the London-bound LNER service on 1 November fled "in sheer terror". Williams is accused of trying to murder 10 passengers and staff. Some people locked themselves in toilets, while others defended themselves with frying pans or toasters. One victim tried to grab the knife blade itself, and another was stabbed in the head and stomach.

Paxton said passenger Stephen Crean launched himself at Williams, who asked him: "do you want to die?" The prosecution argues this is clear evidence of intent to kill, as was the use of the knife on so many people. Jurors will also see footage of 73-year-old David Presland being attacked after he fell to the floor. The attack was stopped by the quick thinking of the train driver, and the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon.

Earlier attacks

The charges also cover attacks in Peterborough on 31 October: on a 14-year-old boy and Dawid Taborski on a footbridge, and on William Ogelby in a car park. Williams then travelled to east London, where he is accused of stabbing a young boy on a Docklands Light Railway train in the early hours of 1 November.

The trial

The court heard it is not disputed that Williams carried out the attacks; jurors must decide whether he intended to kill. Mr Justice Calver told the jury of three women and nine men that Williams is taking part by videolink from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire. The trial continues.