Police confirm mass stabbing on train linked to three other incidents days before
The suspect arrested in connection with a stabbing spree which erupted on a train heading to London has been linked to a spate of other similar attacks, police have said.
Anthony Williams, 32, has been remanded in custody after he was arrested at Huntingdon station on Saturday (1 November) in wake of the terrifying incident.
He has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.
The British Transport Police have now said that the incident which unfolded on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train from Doncaster to King's Cross is being linked to three other knife attacks.
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The force said in a statement: "We can confirm that British Transport Police (BTP) have primacy for the overall investigation relating to Anthony Williams, 32, who was charged with multiple offences following the major incident on a train at Huntingdon, on Saturday 1 November.
"This investigation includes any relevant offences on 31 October and 1 November.
"This now includes the three incidents reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 31 and 1 November, and an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR on 1 November."
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy added: "The criminal investigation is a priority for British Transport Police, and we are working closely with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service.
"We have also this week initiated measures to increase the visibility of police officers across the railway network to reassure both rail staff and the travelling public.
"People will have seen officers actively patrolling concourses and trains, engaging with train crew and passengers, and covering as many services as possible to maintain safety and confidence.
"Most importantly, the public are our eyes and ears too. If you see something that doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and text us on 61016."
Authorities are now investigating Williams' alleged involvement in the stabbing of a teenager in Peterborough city centre on Friday (31 October) night.
A 14-year-old - who suffered minor injuries - was taken to hospital after being attacked. Police arrived at the scene after the suspect fled, with officers unable to find them with the help of a sniffer dog.
According to reports, just 15 minutes after this, a man was seen with a knife at a barber's shop in the Fletton area of Peterborough.
This was only reported to police almost two hours later at 9.10pm, by which point he had left the scene.
In the early hours of the morning of the train attack, Isaiah Ishmael Idris also suffered facial injuries when he was attacked with a knife on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock in East London.
The suspect again fled and cops swiftly launched another investigation into this case. Williams has since been charged with attempted murder in relation to this attack.
Later that day, a second report was received by Cambridgeshire Police, with details of a man with a knife at a barbers' shop in Fletton who was at the scene at the time of the call, though he couldn't be found when police showed up 18 minutes later.
The man is believed to be Williams, though this is yet to be confirmed.
Olivia Burke