On 1 November 2025, Anthony Williams, a 32-year-old man from Peterborough, allegedly stabbed ten people on board an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London. He was arrested at Huntingdon station within minutes and has since been charged with ten counts of attempted murder. Williams is currently being held in a secure psychiatric hospital while awaiting trial. This page explains who Anthony Williams is, what is alleged to have happened on the train, and where his case currently stands.
Who Is Anthony Williams?
Anthony Williams is a 32-year-old Black British man from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Prior to the alleged attack on 1 November 2025, Williams had a history of contact with mental health services. Court documents have since revealed that he is currently assessed by psychiatrists as psychotic and unfit to plead, and he has been transferred to Rampton Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility near Retford, Nottinghamshire, where he is receiving treatment.
Williams is not alleged to have any links to terrorism or organised crime. Police have stated that they believe he acted alone and that the attack was not connected to any extremist ideology.
What Allegedly Happened on the Train?
On the evening of 1 November 2025, a series of violent incidents are alleged to have taken place involving Williams. The main attack occurred aboard an LNER service travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross. Williams is alleged to have boarded the train at Peterborough station at approximately 7.30pm and then attacked fellow passengers indiscriminately with a bladed weapon.
Within approximately fourteen minutes of leaving Peterborough, British Transport Police received emergency calls and the train made an unscheduled emergency stop at Huntingdon station at 7.44pm. Armed officers met the train and arrested Williams on the platform. Nine of the ten victims who were taken to hospital were initially believed to have life-threatening injuries. The incident prompted extensive coverage across UK and international media and raised urgent questions about security on the UK rail network.
What Charges Does Anthony Williams Face?
Williams faces a 21-count indictment. The primary charges consist of ten counts of attempted murder arising from the train attack. He also faces additional charges relating to separate alleged incidents that investigators linked to him on the day of the train attack and the day before. Further charges include assault on a police officer while in custody and possession of a bladed article.
It is important to emphasise that Williams is currently before the courts and has not yet entered a plea. He is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise. Given his current psychiatric status, proceedings before a jury have not yet been able to begin in the conventional sense.
Why Is Anthony Williams in a Psychiatric Hospital Rather Than Prison?
Following his arrest, Williams was initially remanded in custody before being transferred to Rampton Hospital, one of England’s three high-security hospitals (alongside Broadmoor and Ashworth). Courts were told that Williams was assessed by psychiatrists as currently psychotic and unfit to plead to the charges against him.
Under the Mental Health Act and the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964, courts have the power to defer proceedings where a defendant is found unfit to plead due to a mental health condition. Williams cannot currently participate meaningfully in his own defence. Reports compiled by psychiatrists at Rampton indicated that he requires a period of treatment before his fitness to plead can be reassessed. This does not mean the charges against him have been dropped — they remain active and he remains subject to a remand order.
For more information on how the UK criminal justice system handles mental health cases, see our guides on finding a prisoner held in a secure hospital or prison and booking a prison visit.
When Does Anthony Williams Go to Trial?
The case has been subject to several delays due to Williams’ psychiatric condition. A hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on 14 April 2026 heard that the psychiatric report assessing his fitness to plead had been completed. The trial, which had initially been provisionally listed for June 2026, was pushed back to 26 October 2026 at Cambridge Crown Court, pending further reports and legal proceedings.
Whether Williams will be tried in the conventional sense before a jury depends on whether psychiatrists ultimately assess him as fit to plead. If he is found unfit to plead, the court may instead hold a “trial of the facts” to determine whether he carried out the acts alleged against him, without determining criminal guilt in the traditional sense. The outcome of such proceedings can include a hospital order, a supervision order, or an absolute discharge.
The case highlights the complexity of prosecuting serious crimes where the accused has significant mental health difficulties. For context on sentencing in serious violent crime cases, visit our crimes and prison sentences guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anthony Williams from Peterborough?
Anthony Williams is a 32-year-old man from Peterborough who is charged with ten counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing on an LNER train between Doncaster and London on 1 November 2025. He was arrested at Huntingdon station and is currently being held at Rampton high-security psychiatric hospital.
Why is Anthony Williams in hospital and not prison?
Anthony Williams has been transferred to Rampton Hospital because psychiatrists assessed him as currently psychotic and unfit to plead. Under UK law, a defendant who is unfit to plead cannot stand trial in the usual way and may be detained in a secure psychiatric hospital for treatment. The charges against him remain active and he remains subject to a court remand order.
What charges does Anthony Williams face?
Anthony Williams faces ten counts of attempted murder relating to the train attack on 1 November 2025, plus additional charges including assault on a police officer while in custody and possession of a bladed article. He also faces charges relating to alleged incidents on the same day and the day before the train attack.
When is the Anthony Williams trial?
As of April 2026, a trial date has been provisionally set for 26 October 2026 at Cambridge Crown Court. However, this date is subject to change depending on ongoing psychiatric assessments of Williams fitness to plead. If he is found unfit to plead, the proceedings may take a different form known as a trial of the facts.
Was the Huntingdon train stabbing a terrorist attack?
No. Police confirmed at the time that the attack was not linked to terrorism or any extremist ideology. Anthony Williams is believed to have acted alone. Investigators found no evidence of any connection to terrorist organisations or politically motivated violence.
