By Basant El-Faramawy
A train kitchen worker used a frying pan to try to disarm a knifeman who stabbed ten people on a London-bound LNER service that made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon on 1 November 2025, a court has heard.
Worker describes attack
Samir Zitouni, who was working in the train’s galley, told Cambridge Crown Court in a video-recorded police interview played on Friday that he grabbed a frying pan when passengers shouted about a man with a knife. “My thinking was try to hit the knife, to drop his knife,” he said. Zitouni was stabbed multiple times during the confrontation, suffering injuries to his diaphragm and spleen. He said he did not want to give up until the train stopped.
Defendant denies charges
Anthony Williams, 33, has denied ten counts of attempted murder relating to the Huntingdon attack and four further counts of attempted murder linked to earlier incidents in Peterborough and London. Judge Mr Justice Calver told jurors that whether Williams carried out the attacks is not in dispute; they must decide whether he intended to kill.
Passenger throws toaster
Another passenger, Michael Gawthorpe, said in a video interview that he was handed a large toaster and threw it at Williams, believing it struck him. He described seeing the train guard stabbed multiple times and a man slashed in the face. Passengers shouted for Williams to calm down and put the knife down.
Trial continues
The trial at Cambridge Crown Court continues.
