Suspect refuses to appear in court over Doncaster-London train stabbings

A man accused of stabbing 10 people on a Doncaster to London LNER train has failed to appear in court after refusing to join a video link from prison.

Anthony Williams, 32, from Langford Road, Peterborough, is charged with 13 counts of attempted murder, which also relate to other alleged attacks.

Passengers were seriously injured on the train, which was travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross, after it stopped at Peterborough on 1 November.

The short hearing was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January.

The suspect in the Doncater-London train attack refused to appear in court.placeholder image
The suspect in the Doncater-London train attack refused to appear in court.

The 18:25 service was diverted and stopped at Huntingdon - where Mr Williams was eventually arrested - after multiple 999 calls from the train.

Mr Williams, who was represented in court by barrister Graham Arnold, is accused of 21 offences as follows:

Attempted murder of 10 people who were on the train

Possessing a bladed article

Actual bodily harm in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer while in custody

Other allegations:

One count of attempted murder and possessing a bladed article after a man suffered facial injuries at the Pontoon Dock DLR station in Silvertown, east London, in the early hours of 1 November

Attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

Attempted murder of a 22-year-old man at Rail World Car Park in Peterborough on 31 October

Attempted wounding with intent of a 28-year-old man at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

Possession of a bladed instrument in a public place at Henry Penn Walk

Affray in connection with an alleged incident at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough on 31 October

Theft of knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage on 31 October

Common assault of a 31-year-old man onboard a train travelling between Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Biggleswade in Bedfordshire on 1 November

Eleven people received treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after the incident on 1 November. They have all since been discharged.

Earlier, the court was told Mr Williams had refused to go into the video-link room from prison.

Judge Mark Bishop fixed a provisional trial date for 22 June.

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