On November 1, 33-year-old Anthony Williams carried out a stabbing spree on an LNER train traveling from Doncaster to London. The attacker targeted multiple passengers before being apprehended by police following a violent rampage through the carriages.
Anthony Williams and the "Do you want to die?" threat
The suspect, 33-year-old Anthony Williams, boarded the LNER service after attending a football match, according to the report. CCTV footage later played for jurors showed Williams moving through the train cars while brandishing a knife and issuing a chilling ultimatum to those in his path: "Do you want to die?"
The prosecution has classified the events as a rampage, noting that Williams did not target a single individual but instead moved through the train , creating a state of terror for those trapped in the carriages. Williams has since pleaded guilty to attempted murder charges, though other related offenses remain pending as he faces a lengthy prison sentence.
Stephen Crean's intervention and multiple stab wounds
A 46-year-old football fan named Stephen Crean attempted to shield other passengers by confronting Anthony Williams. As reported, Crean shouted for other passengers to lock the carriage doors behind them before moving toward the attacker to stop the assault.
The intervention left Stephen Crean severely injured, with stab wounds to his head, fingers, hip, and both his upper and lower back. Forced to seek shelter in a train toilet, Crean used the facility to place a 999 emergency call,describing himself as covered in blood while operators assured him that police officers were already stationed at the station to intercept the train.
Samir Zitouni's defense with a heavy metal tool
LNER security staff member Samir Zitouni also entered the fray to protect passengers from the knife-wielding suspect. Zitouni utilized a "frying pan device"—described as a bright, heavy metal tool—to create a defensive perimeter against Anthony Williams.
During the struggle, Samir Zitouni was stabbed in the hand and required hospitalization for his injuries. Zitouni's actions were instrumental in managing the crisis until the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon,where the suspect was eventually captured.
Twenty-six victims and the LNER safety gap
The scale of the attack was far larger than initially apparent, with the prosecution stating that twenty-six victims were affected across the train. According to the report, a dozen of these individuals had been attacked prior to the main incident that drew the attention of the security staff and Stephen Crean.
This incident echoes a growing anxiety regarding passenger safety on national rail services, where the enclosed nature of the carriages can leave commuters trapped with a violent perpetrator. The fact that a security guard had to rely on a heavy metal tool rather than specialized tactical equipment highlights the precarious nature of onboard security during high-risk "rampage" scenarios .
The missing witness accounts and the motive
Despite the availability of CCTV and the testimony of survivors, the court heard that some witnesses had "forgotten the account" of the events, leaving gaps in the narrative of the attack. It remains unclear why Anthony Williams targeted the passengers or if there was a specific trigger beyond the football match he attended prior to boarding.
Furthermore, the source does not specify the current medical status of the twelve victims who were attacked early in the rampage, nor does it detail the specific security protocols LNER had in place at the time of the November 1 attack.
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