Terrifying moment knifeman carries out 'rampage' on London train shown to trial jury

Shocking CCTV footage was played to a jury showing the moment a man carried out a knife attack on passengers on a London train.

Anthony Williams, 33, “brought terror” to the Doncaster to London LNER service, stabbing 10 people during a “rampage”, Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

Williams denies the attempted murder of 10 people on the train that had to make an emergency stop in Huntingdon on the evening of Saturday, 1 November last year.

The defendant also denies trying to kill four other people in Peterborough and east London.

Screen grab taken from CCTV footage of Anthony Williams brandishing a knife on an LNER Doncaster to London service (British Transport Police/PA)

Jurors at the opening of his trial were told that whether Williams carried out the attacks was not in question, but they must consider whether he intended to kill.

In footage played to jurors, the knifeman, dressed in a black hoodie, trousers and cap, is seen walking down the aisle of the LNER train before producing the knife.

He appears to speak to passengers while holding the blade in his right hand.

The knifeman, dressed in a black hoodie, trousers and cap, is seen walking down the aisle of the LNER train

British Transport Police

At one point, he stops and appears to lean quickly towards a passenger seat before continuing through the carriage as people move ahead of him.

He then turns around, with the knife clearly visible, before walking into the next carriage.

Jurors also saw footage of passenger Stephen Crean attempting to wrestle the knife from Williams.

Mr Paxton said Williams asked him: “Do you want to die?”

Footage was shown to the jury at Cambridge Crown Court (British Transport Police/PA)

Describing events on the train, Mr Paxton told the jury: “The defendant brought terror which resulted in them fleeing and some fighting for their lives.

“In the face of that threat and the defendant’s sheer brutality, some stood tall to protect others trying to de-escalate his rampage, defending themselves and putting themselves in harm’s way to protect strangers.”

Some fled “in sheer terror”, locking themselves in toilets, while others tried to de-escalate the attack, the court heard.

Williams at Peterborough station last year (British Transport Police/PA)

One of the victims, 73-year-old David Presland, was attacked after he fell to the ground, and other passengers fled, but eventually “ran out of train” in their bid to escape.

“In sheer terror, the train passengers ran for their lives, hiding away in locked toilets, store cabinets, or under seats until many fleeing the defendant literally ran out of train; they could go no further; they were trapped on the moving train,” Mr Paxton said.