20 Minutes of Terror: 10 Attempted Murder Charges Follow Huntingdon Train Stabbing

A detailed investigation, drawing on eyewitness accounts, verified video, and police statements, has reconstructed the 20 terrifying minutes during which multiple stabbings unfolded on an LNER train near Huntingdon. Anthony Williams, 32, has since been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder following the incident that left several passengers and a heroic rail staff member with serious injuries. The attack prompted a swift emergency response, diverting the train to Huntingdon station where the suspect was apprehended.

The violent episode began shortly after the 18:25 LNER service from Doncaster departed Peterborough station on Saturday, November 1, 2025, where the suspect is believed to have boarded. Passengers reported a man armed with a large knife, leading to panic and desperate attempts to flee through carriages. The first distress calls reached emergency services around 19:38 GMT, detailing the unfolding chaos.

Heroic actions by an LNER staff member, identified as Samir Zitouni, are credited with preventing further harm. He intervened to protect a young girl, sustaining life-threatening injuries himself. Other passengers also displayed remarkable bravery, attempting to barricade themselves in the cafe car and aiding fellow victims.

The train driver, Andrew Johnson, a Royal Navy veteran, quickly alerted control, leading to the rapid diversion of the 125mph train to an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station. Within minutes of the first emergency call, armed police met the train at 19:44 GMT, apprehending two individuals. One man was later released after being cleared of involvement.

Anthony Williams was subsequently charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, with police also investigating potential links to three other knife incidents in the days prior. Eleven people required hospital treatment, with one, the LNER staff member, remaining in a critical but stable condition. The comprehensive reconstruction of events, as highlighted by journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh, underscores the rapid and brutal nature of the attack and the critical minutes of the emergency response.