Suspect on Saturday Attack on a London-bound train is currently being investigated for other alleged crimes, including the stabbing of two minors in separate incidents.
Anthony Williams, 32, was arrested on Saturday in a stabbing that left 11 people injured, including one London North Eastern Railway (LNER) employee who was left in a life-threatening condition, according to British Transport Police (BTP).
Police said they have since charged Williams with four other offenses, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy on Friday night and the assault of a 17-year-old earlier on Saturday before the train stabbing.
Police on Tuesday afternoon said a 14-year-old boy was stabbed at 7.10pm on Friday in Peterborough city center on Henry Penn Street, adding that the boy was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
The suspect fled the scene and police, despite the assistance of a police dog, were unable to find him.
Police say a knife-wielding man also entered a hair salon in the Fletton area of Peterborough around the same time on Friday. The matter was reported to Cambridgeshire Police two hours later, but the man left the store so officers were not sent out.
On Saturday at 12:46 p.m. police received the report that a 17-year-old “sustained facial injuries after being attacked with a knife” on a Docklands light rail train at Pontoon Dock station.
“The suspect left the scene before police arrived,” police said. “BTP subsequently identified Anthony Williams as a suspect and took steps to locate and arrest him that same day.”
A few hours later, at 9.25am, hairdressers in Fletton reported “another incident” to Cambridgeshire Police. Police arrived approximately 18 minutes later but were unable to locate the suspect.
At 7.42pm police and paramedics rushed to the railway station in Huntingdon, north-west of Cambridge, following reports of stabbing on LNER train. According to police, the train made an unscheduled stop as emergency services arrived at the scene.
An LNER officer who tried to stop the suspect, later identified by police as Williams, was critically injured. Police officer who hailed as a hero“remains stable but is in critical condition,” police said. Three other victims are in stable condition in hospital.
After the attack, Superintendent John Loveless stated that “there is nothing to indicate that this is a terrorist incident“, noting that Williams was born in the United Kingdom and is originally from Peterborough.
BTP detectives are now investigating all five incidents, police said, adding that “an active investigation is underway.”
Williams is charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article in Saturday's attack, police said. He is also charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident at Pontoon Dock.
“Criminal investigations are a priority for British Transport Police and we are working closely with Cambridgeshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service,” Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said. “This week we have also launched measures to increase the visibility of police officers on the rail network to reassure both rail workers and passengers.”
Cundy asked anyone who sees “anything amiss” to contact British Transport Police.
