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Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after knife attack on UK train

In a shocking turn of events on a London-bound train, a 32-year-old man is facing 11 attempted murder charges after a mass stabbing spree left eleven injured—including a heroic crew member in critical condition—prompting condolences from both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles, while authorities scramble to piece together the suspect’s background, which apparently doesn’t include any VIP access to the security services.
Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after knife attack on UK train British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he attends a meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam (not pictured) at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 29 October 2025. The Vietnamese top party leader is on a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom. EPA/CHRIS RATCLIFFE / POOL

Eleven people were injured in the mass stabbing on the train, including a member of the train crew who remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. That person was hurt while trying to stop the accused from stabbing others.

The attack, on a London-bound train which then stopped at Huntingdon about 80 miles north of London, shocked the country, and prompted statements from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles, who sent their sympathies to those affected.

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said Anthony Williams, 32, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

Ten of the attempted murder charges were linked to the train attack, British Transport Police said, while the eleventh charge was connected to an incident at a station in east London earlier on the same day.

Williams, who is from Peterborough in eastern England, will appear at Peterborough Magistrates Court later on Monday, they said, adding that the charges were brought after a review of CCTV footage from the train amongst other evidence.

Transport minister Heidi Alexander confirmed on Monday the man was not known to security services. She declined to comment on whether he was known to mental health services.

Five of the injured had been discharged from hospital by late on Sunday.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton and William James)

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