Police have launched a probe to establish whether the Huntingdon suspect is linked to three other knife-related incidents in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Police said they are ‘aware’ of the three incidents that took place on October 31 and November 1 and are ‘currently reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences’.
Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough magistrates’ court today charged with 11 counts of attempted murder.
The first incident under review involved a man who stormed into a barbers shop in Fletton, Peterborough, and waved a knife at terrified customers and staff at 7.25pm on October 31.
However, it was no reported to police until 9.10pm – nearly two hours later.
‘At the time of reporting the man was no longer there and had not returned, so we did not send officers, but a crime was raised,’ the force said in a statement.
The following day, police were called at 9.25am with a report the man had returned to the barbers shop and was still on the scene – with officers racing there in just 18 minutes.
Anthony Williams, 32, has appeared in court accused of a knife rampage onboard a high-speed train bound for London
However, cops were unable to locate or identify the man when they searched the area and a crime was raised.
In third incident on October 31 that Cambridgeshire Police ‘believe may be linked’ to Williams, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed by a man with a knife in the city centre at 7.10pm.
The boy was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with minor injuries and was later discharged.
Cambridgeshire Police’s statement added: ‘The offender had left the scene when the call was made and despite a search of the area by officers and a police dog, the offender was not identified.
‘A crime was raised and an investigation commenced, with scenes of crime attending.
‘We are currently reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences.
‘British Transport Police retain primacy for the overall investigation, which will include these three incidents.
‘We voluntarily referred ourselves to the IOPC for independent scrutiny of these incidents, as is standard practice in these cases.’
This is a breaking news story… More to follow.