A hero rail worker whose actions saved multiple lives during a mass stabbing on board a train has today been praised. Samir Zitouni, 48, who has worked for London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for more than 20 years, remains in hospital following the attacks. on board a train in Huntingdon on November 1.
David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: “In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him. His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Sam and his family. We will continue to support them and wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
His family said in a statement released through LNER: “We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to Sam, and by the many well wishes for his recovery.
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“The care provided by the hospital and the support from his colleagues at LNER has been incredible. We are immensely proud of Sam and his courage.
“The police called him a hero on Saturday evening, but to us – he’s always been a hero.”
Another hero who courageously intervened to protect passengers’ lives by tackling the knife-wielding attacker said he “just did what anyone else would do”. Stephen Crean has also been celebrated following his courageous intervention during the vicious mass stabbing incident on a train bound for Huntingdon station – yet maintains he’s “just a normal guy”.
The Nottingham Forest supporter was travelling home from a Forest v Manchester United match and had joined the LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross at Grantham on Saturday evening – where the terrifying ordeal took place.
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A few minutes into the journey, Stephen saw several passengers running through his carriage shouting “there’s a bloke with a knife”. He told Nottinghamshire Live: “The doors to our carriage opened and loads of people started running past me.
“They were shouting there’s a bloke with a knife and everyone headed down to the bottom of the train where the buffet bar was but I couldn’t get in there and the toilets seemed full. I got to the stage where it was me and him in confrontation. He was waving this blade in my face and he said ‘do you want to die’ to me three times.”
Stephen heroically grabbed the knifeman’s arm, before the individual allegedly retaliated by slicing the top of Stephen’s head. At one point, the have-a-go hero even remembers grabbing the knifeman’s blade, with Mr Crean’s hands now severely injured. The Londoner has also been left with three or four stitches on his lower back and buttock.
After fleeing the attacker, Mr Crean managed to run to an empty toilet on the train as he tried to stopped his heavy bleeding. He remained in the cubicle until the train was quickly diverted to Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire.
Train driver Andrew Johnson was also praised and remains fighting for their life.
Yesterday, Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of bladed article following the incident.
District judge Ken Sheraton remanded Williams into custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.