The key facts

  • Anthony Williams admitted guilt in 12 counts of wounding with intent and a number of other offences, but denies 14 counts of attempted murder.
  • The attack took place on 1 November on the Doncaster — London train after it departed Peterborough; the train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon.
  • The trial is expected to last six weeks and will begin next Monday.

Guilty plea before Cambridge court

Anthony Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, pleaded guilty at a preliminary hearing at Cambridge Crown Court to 12 counts of wounding with intent and two counts of attempted wounding. The incidents are connected with the attack on the train, as well as with events in Peterborough and London. Williams took part in the hearing by video link from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire. The hearing was held before Mr Justice Calver.

Circumstances of the train attack

Passengers and staff were injured on the train that departed Doncaster for London at 18:25 on Saturday 1 November, after it had left Peterborough. Following 999 calls from people on board, the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, located one stop south of Peterborough. The station was closed for a couple of days while evidence was gathered.

Admitted and contested charges

Williams also pleaded guilty to a number of other offences: affray at a barbershop in Peterborough on 31 October, theft of knives from an Asda store in Stevenage on 31 October, possession of a blade in a public place in Peterborough on 31 October, at Pontoon Dock DLR station in Silvertown in east London in the early morning of 1 November, and on the train between Peterborough and Huntingdon on 1 November. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a male police officer on 2 November and common assault on a Govia Thames Link train between London St Pancras and Biggleswade in Bedfordshire on 1 November.

Trial will still take place

Williams had previously denied 14 counts of attempted murder related to the train, as well as incidents in London and Peterborough. On the train near Huntingdon on 1 November, according to the BBC, the attempted murder charges concerned Jonathan Gjoshe, Sachin Balakrishnan, David Presland, Scott Bletcher, Scott Green, Kevin Deeley, Stephen Crean, Raza Aslam, Michael Puffett and Samir Zitouni. He also denies one count of attempted murder at Pontoon Dock DLR station on 1 November and three counts of attempted murder in Peterborough on 31 October. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said the guilty pleas 'do not resolve the indictment, so there will be a trial'. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, is due to begin next Monday.

Black-clad police officers and emergency crews wearing green-and-yellow coveralls and helmets on the platform of Huntingdon railway station, where a train has stopped.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Emergency crews met the train at Huntingdon railway station, one stop south of Peterborough, after 999 calls were made from people on board

A forensic officer in a white suit bending over and pointing their camera at the platform. On the platform are scattered possessions. Three police officers are in the foreground.Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Huntingdon Station was closed for a couple of days while evidence was gathered