Huntingdon train stabbings: 3 big questions police haven’t answered | UK | News
Police said their investigation was continuing “at pace” after 11 people were injured in a multiple stabbing attack on a train between Doncaster and London on Saturday. But unanswered questions remain. Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of causing actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article, police said this morning. Another person was arrested at the scene but later released.
A railway worker who showed “incredible courage” to save lives during the attack is in a critical but stable condition in hospital, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said earlier today. An unnamed “hero” London North Eastern Railway (LNER) staff member was injured while trying to protect passengers. Eleven people were injured and harrowing stories emerged of passengers fearing for their lives. Dayna Arnold, 48, told the Mirror: “I fell down and said, ‘Please don’t kill me.’ Something changed in her face and she continued. ‘The devil will not win,’ she said.”
Police are understood to be investigating all the circumstances, including whether mental health was a factor, but the incident is not believed to be a terrorist incident, PA reports.
Ms Alexander said the suspect was not known to counter-terrorism police or MI5 but did not say whether he had links to mental health services.
He told Times Radio: “I will not speculate about his motivations or the events leading up to the incident.”
The cabinet member added: “What I can tell you is that he is not recognized by the counter-terrorism police, he is not recognized by the security services and he is not recognized by the Prevent programme.”
Asked if the suspect was known to mental health services, he said: “I’m afraid I’m not in a position to share any further information about this person.”
Ms Alexander said the suspect was not known to counter-terrorism police or MI5 but would not confirm whether he had links to mental health services.
He told Times Radio: “I will not speculate about his motivations or the events leading up to the incident.”
He added: “What I can tell you is that he is not recognized by the counter-terrorism police, he is not recognized by the security services and he is not recognized by the Prevent programme.”
The suspect reportedly carried a “large knife” onto the train.
Of course, there are currently no security checks at train stations, so authorities are limited in what they can do to ensure a similar incident does not happen.
For now, passengers have been given advice on what to do in case of an attack on wagons.
Former Met Police Negotiator John Sutherland wrote in the Express that the first thing you should do is run.
He wrote: “Your first action should be to run and insist that others do the same. Running is an act of wisdom, not cowardice.”
“The worst that could happen would be another casualty or hostage, especially as this would make the task of responding emergency services more difficult than it already is.”
“Then you must hide,” said Mr. Sutherland.
He suggested keeping yourself and others safe in a locked restroom, using luggage as barricades and slowing attackers’ advances.
“As a last resort, use hard-shell luggage as a form of defense,” he added.
Third, call 999 when it is safe to do so.
