Hero Passenger Recounts Confrontation with Train Knifeman

The harrowing moment a passenger called emergency services after confronting a man wielding a knife on a train has been played to jurors. Anthony Williams, 33, is accused of launching a "rampage" on an LNER service traveling from Doncaster to London on November 1 last year.

Football fan Stephen Crean testified that he offered assurance to other passengers as Williams allegedly attacked them. In a police interview, Mr. Crean described confronting Williams, stating, "I went for the knife to stop him because he's on a mission." The court heard that Mr. Crean was stabbed multiple times in the head, back, fingers, and hip during the attack.

Seeking refuge in a toilet, Mr. Crean made a 999 call that was played at Cambridge Crown Court. A distressed Mr. Crean could be heard telling the operator, "I've locked the door. I need help. I'm scared." He reported being "stabbed all over – head, eyes, face, everywhere." The operator informed him that officers were en route.

According to prosecutor Chris Paxton, Mr. Crean "had no knife, no weapon and looked, he says, the defendant in the eyes." Mr. Crean reported that Williams asked him, "Do you want to die?"

Jurors have also been shown footage of Williams moving through the train carriages. The court heard that Mr. Crean had boarded the train at Grantham after hearing a young girl scream about a "man with a big knife."

Another individual, LNER worker Samir Zitouni, is reported to have used a frying pan to confront Williams, who was allegedly armed with a knife and attacking passengers. Ten people were reportedly attacked on the train, and four others were targeted in separate incidents prior to the train journey.

Williams has admitted to charges including attacking people with a knife with intent to cause serious harm but denies 14 counts of attempted murder. The court was told that Mr. Zitouni intervened to help another passenger, Raza Aslam, who had been stabbed in the hand. Mr. Zitouni then faced what was described as a "prolonged, persistent and brutal" attack, sustaining injuries including collapsed lungs and an injured spleen. He required emergency treatment, including four blood transfusions and ventilation.

Eyewitness accounts from passengers described Williams appearing to derive pleasure from the attacks, with one passenger noting he had "the greatest delight on his face" and "loved seeing us in desperation."

During the incident, a dog named Poppy reportedly intervened when her owner, Scott Green, was attacked, causing Williams to flee. Mr. Green suffered damage to his hand and back after grabbing the knife.

David Presland, 73, recounted believing he was going to die when Williams approached him with the knife. Mr. Presland was stabbed in the back while on his hands and knees and sustained injuries including a broken rib and punctured lung.

Kevin Deely reportedly shouted at Williams and threw an object at him before realizing he had also been stabbed, sustaining a deep wound to his scalp and a lacerated liver.

The prosecution stated that despite the violence, many passengers displayed "extraordinary bravery," with some attempting to defend others and de-escalate the situation.

Passengers fled the train in terror, hiding in toilets and under seats. The onslaught concluded when the train driver arranged an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where Williams was arrested by armed police.

Williams, who is appearing via videolink from Rampton Hospital, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer while in custody. The prosecution indicated that Williams has mental health issues that may be relevant to the trial, but stated that the primary issue is whether he intended to kill his victims, which the prosecution asserts he did.