Man Accused of Halloween Rampage Claims He Was Almost Stabbed Before Attacks

A man accused of a violent Halloween weekend stabbing spree told police he was almost attacked by the same individual who later injured 10 people in a series of assaults. Dawid Taborski recounted to officers the moment Anthony Williams, 33, allegedly pulled out a ten-inch knife and threatened him, saying, "He literally almost just got me, it's not a joke... He was like 'are you involved?'"

Bodycam footage captured the interaction, where Taborski described the knife as being "this big," indicating a considerable length. Williams is accused of attempted murder in relation to this incident. He has admitted to 12 charges of wounding with intent and two of attempted wounding with intent but denies 14 counts of attempted murder.

According to court testimony, Taborski was on his way to a rave when Williams approached him, repeatedly asking if he was involved in something. Initially confused and thinking it might be a Halloween prank, Taborski fled when the knife was produced. Detective Constable Ryan Burke stated that Taborski approached him shortly after, reporting that someone had attempted to stab him but failed.

Preceding Attacks

The alleged rampage began on the evening of October 31 last year with the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy on a footbridge over the River Nene in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The boy told police he was going trick-or-treating when Williams suddenly produced a knife and stabbed him. He and his friend ran and hid until police arrived.

Williams is also accused of the attempted murder of William Ogelby, who stated that while walking to a cashpoint, a man matching Williams' description approached him, uttered a greeting, and then attempted to stab him multiple times with a knife pulled from his waistband. Ogelby reported that his jacket sustained a knife cut.

Train Attacks

The court has heard about the subsequent attacks on a Doncaster to London LNER train the following day. Williams boarded the train in Peterborough and began attacking passengers with a large kitchen knife and a bottle of fortified tonic wine. Jurors were shown footage of passengers fleeing in terror, hiding in toilets, cabinets, and under seats.

Some passengers and a train worker, Samir Zitouni, attempted to intervene. Zitouni reportedly used items like a frying pan and a toaster in a defensive effort and organized other passengers. Despite these efforts, he sustained injuries including partially collapsed lungs and an injured spleen.

Another passenger, Stephen Crean, was also stabbed multiple times after confronting Williams. Some witnesses reported Williams rambling about "the devil" and "power," and declaring, "Everyone's gonna die today."

Arrest and Trial

The train journey of terror concluded when the driver arranged an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Williams was apprehended by armed police, who used a taser to subdue him. He was taken to a hospital for assessment before being transferred to a police station, where he reportedly punched a police officer, admitting to a charge of actual bodily harm.

During the trial, prosecutors acknowledged that Williams has mental health issues that may become relevant. However, they argue that his actions, such as telling one injured passenger to stay put, demonstrate he was functioning and aware of his surroundings. The primary issue in the case for the attempted murder charges, the prosecution stated, is Williams' intent.

The trial is ongoing.