‘Serious questions’ over how suspected knifeman may have evaded police for 24 hours 

The connection of the suspected LNER train attacker to possible four other incidents within 24 hours has raised concern.

The mass stabbing on board the LNER train from Doncaster to King’s Cross on Saturday has shaken up passengers after 11 people were hurt in the rampage, including a train crew member who is in a critical but stable condition.

It has also raised questions for various police forces as the suspect may be linked to three other incidents in Peterborough, and he is accused of attempted murder following an attack on a DLR train in London.

Today, Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged with ten counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article in connection with the Huntingdon train incident.

He is also accused of one count of attempted murder and carrying a blade after a man was left with facial injuries following an attack on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock station shortly before 1am on Saturday.

Detectives are also reviewing whether Williams is linked to the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough town center on Friday.

Now a former London mayor candidate and a Conservative London Assembly member, Susan Hall, asked how a suspect could have travelled up and down the country without being caught.

She told the Standard: ‘It poses very serious questions. How does someone who is suspected of attempted murder in east London board a train up north? Why was there not a manhunt for him?

‘Why aren’t ministers explaining the circumstances around this extremely concerning incident to the public?

‘There are serious questions to answer. People don’t feel safe on the streets of London and need answers.’

Cambridgeshire Police said it has referred itself voluntarily to the IOPC over the three incidents in Peterborough.

It had also referred itself to the watchdog over the Huntingdon attack, but it said it did not meet the criteria for a probe.

Metro understands that the British Transport Police has not referred itself to the watchdog over any alleged incidents as of tonight.

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, fielded questions from MPs today after the latest news over potential further links to other incidents emerged.

She said: ‘I know this House, and the public, will have many unanswered questions today about who this attacker was and about the events that led up to the attack. Those questions will be answered, but it will take time – the police and prosecutors must be allowed to do their work.’

She said the attack in Huntingdon was ‘isolated,’ and it was previously confirmed that the attack was not terror-related.

The British Transport Police’s risk assessment for threats on trains was unchanged, Ms Mahmood said.

She acknowledged concerns raised over whether policing should change in response, and that an assessment is needed ‘what more might have been done to stop this horrific event from ever occuring.’

Conservatives have called for a wider rollout of facial recognition technology in the aftermath of the attack.

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