Man refuses to appear at court over train attacks

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

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.

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

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

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.

Huntingdon allegations:

• Attempted murder of ten 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.