Train Attacker Said ‘I Am the Baddest’, Court Hears: Cambridge 2026

Key Points

• Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court heard evidence about 33-year-old Anthony Williams following a series of knife attacks across the UK rail network.
• Passengers said Williams paced the train aisles, acted erratically, and shouted, “I am the baddest, no-one is as bad as me.”
• Police responded to reports about Williams on a train service on October 31, the day before the knife attacks on the London-bound LNER service.
• Williams faces 21 charges, including 14 counts of attempted murder linked to incidents in Peterborough, London, and on board the LNER train.
• Williams appeared at the trial via videolink from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire before Mr Justice Calver.

CAMBRIDGE (Cambridge Tribune) November 2, 2026 – A man accused of stabbing 10 people on a London-bound passenger train had walked up and down the carriage of a separate rail service the day prior, declaring “I am the baddest, no-one is as bad as me”, Cambridge Crown Court has heard.

Why did witnesses describe Anthony Williams’ behaviour as erratic prior to the attack?

As reported by Sam Russell of PA Media, passenger Ethan Daniels described the behaviour of 33-year-old Anthony Williams as “erratic” in a written statement read to the court on Monday. The court heard that police had been called to respond to concerns regarding Williams on a train service on October 31 last year, the day before the main stabbing incident occurred on a Southbound LNER service travelling towards London King’s Cross.

Jurors were told that during the journey on October 31, Williams was observed pacing through the train carriage while making vocal declarations to passengers. In his statement, Mr Daniels recounted how the defendant walked past passengers whilst shouting comments about his own persona, including stating that no one was as bad as him.

What events transpired during the series of attacks across the rail network?

As reported by Claire McGlasson of ITV News Anglia, prosecution advocate Christopher Paxton KC detailed to the jury that the main incident occurred on November 1, when 10 passengers were stabbed aboard an LNER train service after it departed Peterborough station at approximately 7:29 pm. The violence forced the train driver to perform an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire at 7:44 pm, where armed police officers boarded the train and detained the suspect on the platform.

“He just pulled out a knife and stabbed me. I didn’t feel like he was mentally sane. His eyes were wide open like he was on something.”

The jury was shown extensive CCTV footage captured from inside the carriages. The visual evidence displayed passengers attempting to defend themselves and others using makeshift shields, including frying pans and toasters, as Williams moved through the aisles armed with a large knife.

“As soon as he took that knife out I ran. It happened so quickly. I thought he was going to kill me.”

Earlier in the proceedings, testimony was presented regarding incidents preceding the train stabbing. The court heard that a 14-year-old boy was stabbed in Peterborough on the evening of October 31 while walking near a footbridge behind an Asda store. Furthermore, evidence was submitted concerning an attack in the early hours of November 1 at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London, where a 17-year-old youth sustained facial and hand injuries.

What charges is the defendant facing at Cambridge Crown Court?

As reported by Samah Tabba of The Tab, Williams has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges in total. The counts include 14 charges of attempted murder—comprising 10 counts relating to the passengers on the LNER train, three counts concerning incidents in Peterborough, and one count relating to the DLR station in London.

The court was informed by the presiding judge, Mr Justice Calver, that Williams is attending the trial proceedings via videolink from Rampton Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility located in Nottinghamshire. The jury of nine men and three women continues to hear evidence regarding the sequence of events.

Background of the particular development

The trial at Cambridge Crown Court follows an extensive multi-agency investigation conducted by the British Transport Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and the Metropolitan Police Service following the events of October 31 and November 1.

The incident on board the London-bound LNER service prompted significant emergency responses across Cambridgeshire, leading to the temporary closure of Huntingdon station and disruption along the East Coast Main Line.

Prior to the commencement of the trial, pre-trial hearings evaluated the defendant’s fitness to plead and determined the legal proceedings to be held under formal jury trial conditions, with the defendant participating via secure video link from Rampton Hospital.

Prediction: How this development can affect rail passengers and transport security

The legal outcomes and evidence emerging from this high-profile trial are expected to influence public policy and operational protocols surrounding security across the United Kingdom’s railway network.

• Rail Passengers and Commuters: Passengers may experience heightened security presence, including increased deployments of British Transport Police officers and potential trial implementations of enhanced surveillance or screening measures at major hub stations like Peterborough and London King’s Cross. Public perception of safety on long-distance services could lead to calls for clearer emergency response procedures inside train carriages.
• Rail Operators and Staff: Transport authorities and train operating companies (such as LNER) may review staff safety training and emergency protocol communication, ensuring onboard personnel are equipped to manage critical security incidents and coordinate rapid emergency stops with rail network controllers.
• Legal and Healthcare Frameworks: The findings from the judicial process regarding offender management, mental health monitoring, and inter-agency police communication prior to major incidents could prompt policy reviews concerning how individuals displaying erratic behaviour on public infrastructure are reported and handled by law enforcement.