Police expand inquiry after high-speed train attack leaves
11 injured, including footballer and train guard hailed as hero.
Peterborough, UK — Police in Cambridgeshire and London are investigating whether a series of knife attacks across Peterborough and the capital are connected to a mass stabbing aboard a high-speed train on Saturday evening.
Authorities have charged Anthony Williams, 32, with 10 counts of attempted murder, and are examining at least four earlier knife incidents allegedly linked to the suspect. 11 people were injured during the train attack on Saturday, five remain hospitalised.
Williams, from Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough magistrates court on Monday, facing multiple attempted murder charges connected to both the Doncaster–London train incident and a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) attack at Pontoon Dock station earlier the same day.
According to BTP, officers responded to the Pontoon Dock assault at 12:46 a.m., where a man suffered facial injuries. Investigators later identified Williams as a suspect.
Linked
Incidents Under Review
- Authorities confirmed that the inquiry now includes three knife-related incidents in Peterborough on Friday evening and Saturday morning, including:
- The stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough city centre (minor injuries).
- A man seen with a knife at a Fletton barbershop on Friday night.
- A second barbershop report on Saturday morning, where officers arrived 18 minutes after the call but could not locate the suspect
- Cambridgeshire Police stated they are “reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences.”
Voices
from the Scene
Andrew
Johnson, the train driver who diverted the 6:25 p.m. Doncaster–London service
to Huntingdon for emergency intervention, said:
“We
practise our emergency response so we know exactly what to do. I think my
colleagues onboard were the real heroes and I’d like to pay tribute to their
bravery.”
Home
Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Parliament that police were alerted at 7:42 p.m.
and arrested a suspect within eight minutes. She praised the “breathtaking
bravery” of crew and passengers, especially one train guard now in critical but
stable condition, who “ran towards danger” and prevented further casualties.
Charges
and Custody
Williams
has also been charged with actual bodily harm over an alleged assault on a
police officer while in custody. He remains remanded in custody pending further
hearings.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy (BTP) confirmed the investigation includes “other possible linked offences.”
Wider
Security and Policy Context
The
government has ruled out installing knife arches across UK rail stations.
However, increased police presence has been deployed temporarily across the
transport network.
Mahmood
emphasized that the attack is considered an isolated incident, but promised a
full review
“Once
the facts are known, we must examine what more might have been done to stop
this horrific event, and whether there are measures to better protect the
public.”
Human
Impact
Among
thoe injured was Jonathan Gjoshe, a Scunthorpe United footballer. The crew
member who confronted the attacker remains hospitalised, hailed as a national
hero for his actions.
The
event has reignited debate on rail safety, mental health intervention, and
emergency response in public transport systems.
Updated
at: 15:00 GMT | November 3, 2025
By:
Maria Perez, Editor-in-Chief | CRNTimes
Transparency
note: This report is based on verified statements from British Transport
Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the Home Office, and court proceedings. It
complies with CRNTimes’ ethics code and Google E-E-A-T standards.