# Huntingdon Train Attack Survivor Recounts Fear of Suicide Bomber Witness testimony at Cambridge Crown Court details the chaotic scene during a mass stabbing incident. - **Source:** [The Independent – News](https://www.independent.co.uk/news) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b476c51a-05a3-4ee5-8f03-f4ff7d0969c8 ## Witness Describes Panic Milan Campion, a passenger on the LNER train, testified at Cambridge Crown Court regarding the November 1, 2025 incident. He described a chaotic scene where passengers fled down the aisle after hearing shouts about a knifeman. Campion admitted he feared the attacker might be a suicide bomber, prompting his desperate attempt to escape. ## Suspect's Observed Behavior Campion observed the attacker, identified as 33-year-old Anthony Williams, slashing with a knife in a manner he described as slow and defensive. He noted that the assailant paused periodically while shouting, leading the witness to conclude that Williams was not of sound mind during the violent encounter on the train carriage. ## Initial Toilet Encounter Before the attack escalated, Campion had a brief, uneventful encounter with Williams inside a train toilet. He opened the sliding door, finding the defendant sitting inside without the door locked. Williams was staring at the ground and remained silent, which Campion initially dismissed as a minor social awkwardness before returning to his seat. ## Violent Assault Details Another passenger, Max Bendel, provided video testimony describing the moment the attack began. He witnessed Williams pounce on a seated victim while wielding a large kitchen knife. Bendel reported that the assailant immediately began stabbing the individual repeatedly, confirming the severity of the violence that unfolded inside the train carriage that day. ## Legal Charges Faced Anthony Williams currently faces multiple charges of attempted murder. These include the stabbing of 10 people on the LNER train, three additional attempted murders in Peterborough on October 31, and the stabbing of a 17-year-old at London’s Pontoon Dock DLR station. The defendant has formally denied all charges brought against him by prosecutors. ## Court's Core Question Judge Mr Justice Calver clarified the scope of the trial for the jurors at Cambridge Crown Court. He stated that the identity of the attacker is not in dispute, as Williams is confirmed to have carried out the acts. The jury must now determine whether the defendant possessed the specific intent to kill. ## Defensive Passenger Actions As the situation unfolded, fleeing passengers retreated toward the train's catering area to seek safety. In a desperate attempt to protect themselves, some individuals utilized items of luggage as makeshift shields. Campion himself attempted to de-escalate the situation by shouting at the knifeman that his actions were simply not worth the cost. ## Context of Trial The trial highlights the legal complexities involved in cases of mass violence where mental state is a central factor. By focusing on the intent behind the stabbings rather than the commission of the acts, the court process aims to establish criminal liability for the series of attacks occurring across multiple locations in November. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/huntingdon-train-attack-trial-anthony-williams-b3081706.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._