A man accused of carrying out a mass stabbing attack aboard a passenger train in Cambridgeshire has admitted guilt to 12 counts of wounding with intent, though he continues to deny the most serious charges. According to BBC News, Anthony Williams, 33, entered his guilty pleas at a pre-trial review hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, appearing via video link from Rampton Hospital.
The incident occurred on the 18:25 Doncaster-London service operated by Govia Thames Link on 1 November, after the train departed Peterborough. Multiple passengers and staff members sustained injuries in the attack, prompting the train to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon railway station. Williams, who resides on Langford Road in Peterborough, has maintained his not guilty plea to 10 counts of attempted murder relating to named individuals: Jonathan Gjoshe, Sachin Balakrishnan, David Presland, Scott Bletcher, Scott Green, Kevin Deely, Stephen Crean, Raza Aslam, Michael Paffett, and Samir Zitouni.
In addition to the wounding convictions, Williams admitted two counts of attempting to wound with intent connected to incidents on the train and in other locations. He also pleaded guilty to affray at a barber shop in Peterborough on 31 October, and to stealing knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage on the same date. The defendant confessed to possessing a bladed article in a public place at three separate locations: Peterborough on 31 October, Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London in the early hours of 1 November, and aboard the train between Peterborough and Huntingdon on 1 November.
Further charges to which Williams pleaded guilty include assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a male police officer on 2 November, and common assault on a Govia Thames Link train travelling between London St Pancras and Biggleswade in Bedfordshire on 1 November.
What happens with the attempted murder charges?
Despite the guilty pleas on the lesser charges, the trial will proceed as scheduled. According to the Daily Mail, prosecutor Chris Paxton KC confirmed that the case will continue to trial, with sentencing deferred until after the verdict is delivered. The trial date was previously moved from 22 June to 26 October 2026 as the court awaited additional reports.
How long will the trial last?
The trial is expected to span five weeks, according to reporting from the Daily Mail. The proceedings will take place before Mr Justice Calver at Cambridge Crown Court, with the trial commencing on 26 October 2026.
Key Facts
- Williams pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wounding with intent and 2 counts of attempting to wound with intent
- He continues to deny 10 counts of attempted murder relating to named victims on the train
- The attack occurred on 1 November aboard the 18:25 Doncaster-London service near Huntingdon, injuring multiple passengers and staff
- Williams also admitted to theft of knives, affray, possession of bladed articles, and assaults on separate dates
- The trial is scheduled to begin on 26 October 2026 and is expected to last five weeks
