‘Serious questions’ over how suspected knifeman may have evaded police for 24 hours
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The connection of the suspected LNER train attacker to four other knife incidents within 24 hours has raised concerns as to how he was allowed o travel up and down the country without being stopped by police.
The mass stabbing on board the LNER train from Doncaster to King’s Cross on Saturday has shaken up passengers after 11 people were hurt in the rampage, including a train crew member who is in a critical but stable condition.
It has also raised questions for various police forces as the suspect may be linked to three other incidents in Peterborough, and he is accused of attempted murder following an attack on a DLR train in London.
Today, Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged with ten counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article in connection with the Huntingdon train incident.
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He is also accused of one count of attempted murder and carrying a blade after a man was left with facial injuries following an attack on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock station shortly before 1am on Saturday.
Detectives are also reviewing whether Williams is linked to the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough town centre on Friday.
Now a former London mayor candidate and a Conservative London Assembly member, Susan Hall, asked how a suspect could have travelled up and down the country without being caught.
She told the Standard: ‘It poses very serious questions. How does someone who is suspected of attempted murder in east London board a train up north? Why was there not a manhunt for him?
‘Why aren’t ministers explaining the circumstances around this extremely concerning incident to the public?
‘There are serious questions to answer. People don’t feel safe on the streets of London and need answers.’
It came as London Bridge was evacuated in rush hour on Monday after reports of a suspicious person on the platform. Armed police responded but nobody matching the description was found.
Timeline of events linked to suspect Anthony Williams
Friday, October 31, 7.10pm – A 14-year-old is stabbed with a knife in Peterborough city centre and left with minor injuries. The suspect has fled when the police arrive and officers are unable to find them.
Friday, October 31, 7.25pm – A man is seen allegedly with a knife at a barber’s shop in the Fletton area of Peterborough. The alleged sighting is reported to the police at 9.10pm, and officers do not attend but record a crime.
Saturday, November 1, 12.46am – Isaiah Ishmael Idris suffers facial injuries when he is attacked with a knife on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock, east London. The suspect flees.
Saturday, November 1, 9.25am – A second report is received by Cambridgeshire Police of a man with a knife at a barbers’ shop in Fletton. When the call arrives, he is still at the scene, but when police arrive 18 minutes later, they are unable to find him. A crime is recorded.
Saturday, November 1, 7.30pm – A mass stabbing occurs on a train from Doncaster to London, and passengers activate the alarms. The train pulls in at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
7.39pm – Cambridgeshire Constabulary police have been called
7.42pm – British Transport Police (BTP) on their way
7.50pm – Within eight minutes of the call to BTP, two men have been apprehended by armed officers, with one later released without charge
Sunday, November 2 – BTP says a 35-year-old man from London who was also arrested at the scene has been released with no further action. A 32-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.
Monday, November 3 – Anthony Williams, 35, from Peterborough, is charged with ten counts of attempted murder, and another count of attempted murder in connection with the DLR incident
Cambridgeshire Police said it has referred itself voluntarily to the IOPC over the three incidents in Peterborough.
It had also referred itself to the watchdog over the Huntingdon attack, but it said it did not meet the criteria for a probe.
Metro understands that the British Transport Police has not referred itself to the watchdog over any alleged incidents as of tonight.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, fielded questions from MPs today after the latest news over potential further links to other incidents emerged.
She said: ‘I know this House, and the public, will have many unanswered questions today about who this attacker was and about the events that led up to the attack. Those questions will be answered, but it will take time – the police and prosecutors must be allowed to do their work.’
She said the attack in Huntingdon was ‘isolated,’ and it was previously confirmed that the attack was not terror-related.
The British Transport Police’s risk assessment for threats on trains was unchanged, Ms Mahmood said.
She acknowledged concerns raised over whether policing should change in response, and that an assessment is needed ‘what more might have been done to stop this horrific event from ever occuring.’
Conservatives have called for a wider rollout of facial recognition technology in the aftermath of the attack.
Train driver Andrew Johnson, who was praised for his actions pulling into Huntingdon station, has said that his onboard colleagues were the ‘real heroes’ and he was only doing his job.
Mr 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.’
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