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New Delhi: British prosecutors have charged a 32-year-old man with multiple counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing on a London-bound train that left 11 people injured. Two of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
The suspect, identified as Anthony Williams from Peterborough, was arrested after the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to London King's Cross made an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Williams faces 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of possession of a bladed article in connection with the attack. He is also accused of a separate knife incident at Pontoon Dock transit station earlier the same day.
According to reports, the attack is not being treated as an act of terrorism. The suspect was due to appear before the Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday.
British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were alerted around 7.40 pm (GMT) on Saturday after reports of multiple stabbings onboard the high-speed service. Armed officers and paramedics arrived within eight minutes of the first emergency call.
"The train was stopped at Huntingdon station, where officers from British Transport Police and Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and detained two suspects. One of them, a 35-year-old man from London, was released without charge," said Superintendent John Loveless of the BTP.
Of the 11 victims hospitalised, four were later discharged, while two remain in life-threatening condition. The railway staff member who intervened to stop the attacker suffered serious injuries and is currently in critical but stable condition, police said.
A knife was recovered at the scene, and CCTV footage reviewed by detectives showed a train crew member intervening to stop the attacker.
In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, King Charles III expressed his shock.
"My wife and I were truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack that took place onboard a train in Cambridgeshire last night. Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones. We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident," the statement read.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also praised the rapid response by first responders. "My deepest thanks go to the British Transport Police, Cambridgeshire Police, Fire and Rescue Service, and the East of England Ambulance Service. Their professionalism and courage saved lives," she said.
