A brave commuter has described the moment he squared up to a rampaging knifeman on a packed train on Saturday night, pinning the attacker’s arm in a desperate bid to halt a bloody onslaught that left 11 people wounded. Stephen Crean, 35, from London, faced the suspect as passengers reacted to the incident on the 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to King’s Cross, which made an emergency stop at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.
Mr Crean told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: “It was just me against him.” Despite stitches to his head and injuries to his fingers, he added: “I was trying to hold his hand, but the blade was going all around. It was right up close – like a sword. I mean, it might be exaggerating, but that’s what it felt like.”
The incident began shortly after the train left Peterborough station at 7.30pm. The attacker, who boarded there, moved through the carriages with a large knife, injuring passengers. British Transport Police (BTP) said it was not terrorism-related; a knife was recovered.
Passengers hid in toilets and the buffet car. Survivor Dayna Arnold, 48, from the North East, fell as the attacker approached her. Ms Arnold told the Mirror: “I fell down and just said, ‘Please don’t kill me’.”
She added: “Something shifted in his face and he carried on. He said: ‘The devil is not going to win’.” Ms Arnold was uninjured but said she felt lucky.
Mr Crean was using his phone when he heard shouts and saw people running. He saw the attacker with the knife and ran, but returned to hold the man’s wrist, at which point the man said: “Do you want to die?”
Mr Crean continued: “I got away and then I got into the toilet and by then I was bleeding lots, my head has got lots and lots of stitches all over my head and my hand is severe with the knife wounds, but I think every finger’s basically probably needs plastic surgery.”
A rail worker who tried to stop the attacker is in intensive care. Train driver Andrew Johnson contacted signalmen to divert the train to Huntingdon station.
Alarms sounded at 7.42pm; armed officers arrived eight minutes later and arrested Anthony Williams, 32, of Langford Road, Peterborough. A second man, 35, from London, was arrested but released without charge.
This morning, BTP charged Williams with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon.
He will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning. BTP declared a major incident; six of the 11 injured have been discharged.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said of the bravery shown: “Actions nothing short of heroic… undoubtedly saved lives.”
LNER managing director David Horne praised the driver and crew, and said the company will support the injured worker’s family.
Aslef organiser Nigel Roebuck said of Mr Johnson: “Real courage in the most difficult circumstances.” Services are running today. Police ask for information via 61016, quoting reference 663/01/11/25.