PETERBOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM — Police are investigating a possible link between Anthony Williams, the man charged in connection with a high-profile knife attack on a London-bound train, and several earlier knife incidents in Peterborough, raising questions about whether the weekend's horror could have been prevented.
Mr. Williams, 32, of Peterborough, appeared in court on Monday, charged with 11 counts of attempted murder relating to the stabbings on an LNER train near Huntingdon and an earlier incident at a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in London on Saturday, November 1.
Authorities have now broadened their scope to include three distinct events in Peterborough that took place within the 24 hours preceding the train attack: a 14-year-old boy was stabbed and suffered minor injuries on Friday evening; minutes later, a man believed to be Williams allegedly entered Ritzy Barbers in Fletton, brandishing a knife; and the same man reportedly returned to the barber shop on Saturday morning, just hours before the railway assault.
CCTV Footage and Police Response Scrutinized
Exclusive CCTV footage allegedly shows the knifeman entering the barber shop. Staff called Cambridgeshire Constabulary about the Friday evening incident about 90 minutes after the man left. However, police reportedly did not send officers, instead asking the shop to upload the video evidence online.
Barber Cody Greene, 23, who witnessed the man's return on Saturday morning, called the police again. By the time officers arrived 18 minutes later, the man had left, just hours before he allegedly began his train rampage.
Greene voiced frustration, stating, "Even though we called the police, I feel guilty because it could have been prevented if action had been taken... It [the train attack] definitely could have been prevented."
Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed it is "aware" of the incidents and has launched a probe to determine links to the later attacks, but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found the matter did not meet the criteria for a referral. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, vowed that "questions about the attack will be answered."
Attack Details and Heroism
Stephen Crean, 61, described being stabbed six times after confronting the attacker with his fists. The suspect allegedly asked him, "Do you want to die?" Crean managed to escape and lock himself in a toilet before the train was diverted to Huntingdon station, where the suspect was arrested.
An LNER staff member who confronted the attacker is in critical but stable condition. Home Secretary Mahmood paid tribute to his "breathtaking bravery," calling him a "hero."
Scunthorpe United player Jonathan Gjoshe was confirmed by his club to be one of the victims, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr. Williams was formally charged with attempted murder of 10 people on the train and one man, Isaiah Ishmael Idris, at the DLR station earlier that day. Court documents allege he used a "large kitchen knife" in both major attacks.
Williams was remanded into custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. He is not understood to have been previously known to security services.
For more cases about criminal incidents in United Kingdom, check out our video here:
