Boy stabbed and ‘knifeman’ seen twice at barbers in 24 hours before train attack

The stabbing of a 14-year-old boy and two reports of a knifeman seen at a barbers in Peterborough are being investigated as part of the police probe into a mass stabbing on a high speed train.

Cambridgeshire police said that the teenager was non-fatally injured at 7.10pm on Friday, before a man with a knife was seen at a barbers in Fletton 15 minutes later, although this was only reported to police two hours later.

A second report of a knifeman was made at 9.25am the following morning when he was still at the scene, but when police arrived 18 minutes later they could not find him.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs on Monday that the public will have “many unanswered questions” about the train attacker and what events led up to the incident on board the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train from Doncaster to London on Saturday.

She paid tribute to the “breathtaking bravery” of those on the train, including one of the staff members who put himself in harm’s way and confronted the attacker.

She said: “On Saturday, he went to work to do his job – today, he is a hero, and forever will be. ”

The LNER staff member is in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the stabbings on the high-speed service.

There were 13 casualties in total, eight of whom remain in hospital, Ms Mahmood said.

The Home Secretary added: “Once the facts are known, we must examine what more might have been done to stop this horrific event from ever occurring, and whether there are measures that we must now take to better protect the public, on our streets and on our trains.”

The train driver, who was praised for his actions, said his onboard colleagues were the “real heroes”.

In a statement issued by LNER, Andrew Johnson said: “As train drivers, we hold a lot of responsibility.

“We practise our emergency response and keep up to date with our knowledge of the route, so if needed, we know exactly where to stop and what to do.

“The action I took is the same as any other driver. I think my colleagues onboard were the real heroes and I’d like to pay tribute to their bravery.”

Mr Johnson, who served in the Royal Navy for 17 years, contacted a signaller and requested an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station.

David Horne, LNER managing director, said: “Andrew’s actions are testament to the expertise and skills he has built over his career, both on the railway and in the military. The intensive training undertaken by our drivers means they are always ready to respond in any situation.

“We’re grateful to Andrew, our onboard colleagues, the signaller, and the station team at Huntingdon, for their actions on Saturday. Our thoughts remain with our colleague in hospital.”

Earlier Anthony Williams, 32, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after several people were stabbed on an LNER train from Doncaster to London on Saturday.

He is also charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.

Separately, Williams is charged with one count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article over an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London in the early hours of Saturday, where a victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife.

He allegedly used a “large kitchen knife” in both attacks, according to court documents.

Williams was not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing, and had not been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent, Ms Mahmood told MPs.

The investigation by British Transport Police into the train attack will include the stabbing of the 14-year-old and the incident at the barber’s shop.

Williams appeared in the dock in handcuffs with four security officers alongside him, and spoke softly to confirm his name, age and address.

He was not asked to enter pleas and when asked his address, mumbled: “No fixed abode.”

Opposing bail for Williams, prosecutor Olaide Esan told the hearing: “The defendant has attempted to murder 11 people in total.

“These are serious allegations. These are very serious offences.

“The defendant is a risk to the trains and to the members of the public.”

The assault charge Williams faces relates to him allegedly attacking a male police officer in custody after being arrested, leaving him with a “broken nose”, Ms Olaide said.

Williams has been charged with the attempted murder of Scott Bletcher; Michael Paffett; Kevin Deely; Jonathan Gjoshe; David Presland; Sachin Balakrishnan; Stephen Crean; Samir Zitouni; Rasza Aslam and Scott Green.

He is also accused of the attempted murder of Isaiah Ishmael Idris earlier the same day at a DLR station.

District judge Ken Sheraton remanded Williams into custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.