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A member of the train staff confronted a man accused of attempting to kill ten people aboard a train by using a frying pan as a weapon, expressing that he was determined not to “give up until the train stopped,” according to statements made in court. The incident occurred on November 1st during the York to London King’s Cross LNER journey when Anthony Williams launched the attack, forcing the train to make an unexpected stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
During proceedings at Cambridge Crown Court, Samir Zitouni, the staff member involved, described his efforts to block Williams, who was wielding a knife. He explained that he aimed to strike the weapon itself and prevent the attacker from advancing. Williams, aged 33 and from Langford Road in Peterborough, faces ten charges of attempted murder as well as additional allegations related to earlier attacks in Peterborough and London. The jury viewed a recorded interview with Zitouni while he observed from the public gallery.
The court also reviewed the serious injuries Zitouni sustained during the confrontation. Both of his lungs were punctured, and he required four blood transfusions, chest drains, and mechanical ventilation. In his interview, Zitouni recounted hearing passengers warn each other about a man armed with a knife and initially responding with disbelief. Witnesses described Zitouni as rapidly moving around the carriage, gathering items like trolleys and pans in a bid to protect others from harm.
Zitouni stated that after grabbing a frying pan, he saw the blade of the knife and repeatedly urged Williams to stop, offering assistance instead of resorting to insults. He conveyed his terror and difficulty in processing the situation. CCTV footage revealed Zitouni’s repeated attempts to calm the attacker, including telling him, “We love you, we can help you.” Zitouni declared in his video that his focus was on disarming Williams and preventing further violence until the train came to a halt. Another passenger, Michael Gawthorpe, who was not wounded but present in the same carriage, described trying to reason with Williams and throwing a large toaster at him in self-defense. He expressed fear that his actions might have worsened the situation but noted that as the train began to slow, Williams appeared distracted. Meanwhile, Christina Jones, another passenger, was shown in a recorded interview tearfully demonstrating how she hid from the attacker and recalled throwing a hot drink at him
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