Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court have been shown CCTV footage depicting a mass stabbing aboard a London-bound train, with prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC describing passengers engaged in desperate hand-to-hand combat to survive the assault. According to BBC News, the footage revealed the panic and fear on the faces of those fleeing during the violent incident on a Doncaster to King's Cross LNER service between Peterborough and Huntingdon on 1 November 2025.
Anthony Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, denies 14 counts of attempted murder in connection with the train attack and separate incidents in Peterborough and London on 31 October 2025. The trial, which began on 28 October and is expected to last six weeks, is now in its second day of proceedings.
What the CCTV footage revealed
Paxton told jurors that passengers had "stood tall against the defendant's onslaught" despite the violence unfolding around them.
"You can see the panic, you can see the fear in the faces of those fleeing,"he said, describing the scene captured on camera.
"In this storm of violence, and even when gripped by fear, many there on that train helped others and, as we will see, some stood tall, quite literally, against the defendant's violent onslaught."
How victims resisted the attacker
One victim, Sachin Balakrishnan, sustained stab wounds to his forearm and chest, with one wound puncturing his lung and coming within centimetres of his heart. Paxton described the scene involving Balakrishnan as
"hand-to-hand fighting as Mr Balakrishnan is literally fighting for his life."
According to Yahoo News, passengers fought back using kitchen items, with train worker Samir Zitouni wielding a frying pan during the assault. Additionally, ITV News reported that passenger Stephen Crean testified Williams asked him, "Do you want to die?" while Crean attempted to wrestle the knife away from the attacker, with prosecutors citing the exchange as evidence of intent to kill.
How a dog may have saved a passenger's life
Passenger Scott Green was travelling on the train with his dog, Poppy, when Williams allegedly attempted to stab him for a third time. Paxton told the jury that
"He thought he was going to lose his life on the train when the defendant tried to stab him for the third time. It seems, members of the jury, that Poppy the dog, for Mr Green at least, saved the day and sent the defendant running off."The court also heard that Williams had previously been bitten by a dog in an unrelated incident.
Other victims and their injuries
David Presland, 73, was stabbed in the back while on his hands and knees during the attack. He told police that after turning to face his attacker, Williams stabbed him under the arm. Presland received assistance from Kevin Deely, another person Williams is accused of attempting to murder.
Paxton emphasised the speed and scale of the violence, telling the court that
"all over in about five minutes", adding: "In that time, 10 men are stabbed by one man, this defendant, Mr Williams"."
Who are the alleged victims?
Williams is accused of attempting to murder ten people aboard the train: Jonathan Gjoshe, Sachin Balakrishnan, David Presland, Scott Bletcher, Scott Green, Kevin Deely, Stephen Crean, Raza Aslam, Michael Paffett and Samir Zitouni. He is also accused of attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy and Dawid Taborski on a footbridge near Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October, and William Ogelby at Railworld car park in the city shortly afterwards.
Williams' legal position
Williams has pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wounding with intent and two counts of attempting to wound with intent, according to court records. However, he continues to deny the 14 attempted-murder charges that form the basis of the current trial. Eleven people received hospital treatment following the train attack, and police stated there was nothing to suggest the incident was terrorism-related.
What happens next
The trial is continuing and is expected to last approximately six weeks from its 28 October start date. Jurors will hear further evidence from prosecution witnesses and the defence case as proceedings advance.
