Knife Attack in England: Suspect inked to three other incidents

Monday 03 November 2025 - 16:00

By: Sahili Aya

Knife Attack in England: Suspect inked to three other incidents

Police in Cambridgeshire are investigating three other incidents potentially connected to a knife attack on a trainSaturday evening, which left several passengers injured. Authorities say all incidents occurred in Peterborough between Friday night and Saturday morning, and bear similarities to the behavior of the suspect, Anthony Williams, 32.

On Friday evening, a man carrying a knife was seen in a hair salon in Fletton, southern Peterborough. Police were alerted two hours later, but the suspect had already left. The following morning, the salon reported seeing a man matching the same description; officers arrived within 18 minutes but could not locate him.

A third incident occurred Friday around 19:10, when a 14-year-old boy was stabbed. The teen was hospitalized with minor injuries and later released. The attacker was not identified despite a search supported by a police dog.

The police have formally referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for an independent review of the interventions. “We are examining all incidents during this period to determine whether other offenses occurred,” the statement said.

Court Proceedings and Charges

Williams, a resident of Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court Monday morning. He faces ten counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm for allegedly injuring a police officer in custody, and one count of possession of a bladed weapon related to the train attack. He is also charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in a separate incident at Pontoon Dock station in London earlier that day.

Williams, who told the court he has no fixed address, remains in custody pending his next appearance at the Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. Transport Minister Heidi Alexander confirmed the suspect was not known to counter-terrorism or security services, nor to the UK’s radicalization prevention programs. She could not confirm whether he had prior contact with psychiatric services.

The Train Attack

The attack occurred shortly after 19:40 on the LNER 18:25 train from Doncaster to London, which made an emergency stop at Huntingdon after passengers were stabbed. Witnesses described the assailant as dressed entirely in black and moving “calmly, almost like a zombie.”

Police arrested two men within eight minutes; Williams was subdued using a stun gun, while the other, a 35-year-old London resident, was released without charge. Eleven people were hospitalized, four have since been discharged, and two remained in critical condition.

Deputy Chief Stuart Cundy emphasized that criminal investigation and victim support remain a top priority, urging the public not to share information that could compromise ongoing legal proceedings.