Man who stabbed 10 on London-bound train asked passenger 'do you want to die?', court hears

A man who stabbed 10 people on a train heading to London asked one passenger "do you want to die?", a court has heard.

CCTV was shown to a jury of Stephen Crean trying to disarm Anthony Williams during the five-minute attack on 1 November last year.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Williams had "brought terror" to the LNER service from Doncaster to the capital.

Williams has admitted 10 counts of wounding with intent relating to the incident on the train at Huntingdon.

He also stabbed four other people in the 24 hours before the attack but denies 14 counts of attempted murder.

Opening the case, Mr Paxton told jurors: "Mr Crean will tell you that the defendant told him, and I quote, 'Do you want to die?'.

He said it was clear evidence of Williams' intention to kill and that Mr Crean had suffered wounds to his hand, head and lower back.

Mr Paxton told Cambridge Crown Court: "The defendant, Mr Williams, armed with a knife, caused terror and fear on an unimaginable scale, moving up and down a busy train, from which there was no escape, stabbing several people as he did so."

Mr Paxton said some passengers ran for their lives, hiding in locked toilets or under seats - while others showed "extraordinary bravery" as they tried to protect themselves and de-escalate the situation.

Crew member fought back with frying pan

Samir Zitouni - a member of the train crew - used a frying pan to try to stop Williams but was stabbed multiple times, the court heard.

Passenger Scott Green, who was travelling with his dog, tried to grab the knife from Williams, who allegedly continued to stab him in his seat.

Others attacked included Kevin Deely, who the court heard received wounds to his scalp and a 9cm deep cut to his stomach, and 73-year-old David Presland, who was attacked after he fell to the ground.

The court was told that Williams spent Halloween and the day after "marauding through towns and cities, on streets and trains alike, armed with a knife".

"He stabbed many, seeking to end their lives with deadly intention, striking out at them when they were defenceless and in fear," Mr Paxton told the court.

Williams attacked three people in Peterborough on the evening of 31 October, including stabbing a 14-year-old boy on a footbridge before lunging with the knife at a man, the court heard.

He's said to have asked them "are you involved?" before allegedly producing a large knife and then attempting to stab a man in the chest in a car park.

The prosecutor said Williams was then seen swigging alcohol outside a barber shop in Queen's Walk, before brandishing his knife inside.

He then took a taxi to Peterborough station and boarded a London-bound train, jurors were told.

The court heard a passenger heard Williams shouting words such as "boom" and "power" as he rummaged in his backpack and also mentioned the "devil".

After arriving in London, Williams is said to have stabbed a 17-year-old in the face and hand on the Docklands Light Railway at Pontoon Dock in the early hours of the following day.

He asked him if he was "beefing with the devil" before launching the attack, jurors were told.

Williams then travelled around on the Tube and train network, before heading back to Peterborough, via Stevenage.

The main attack happened later that evening when 10 people were stabbed on another train - which was heading south to London King's Cross.

Williams is said to have boarded at Peterborough at about 7.29pm. It was forced to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon station at 7.44pm.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man who stabbed 10 on London-bound train asked passenger 'do you want to die?', court hears