The hero of the Huntingdon train attack used a frying pan to battle the suspected knifeman so passengers could flee to safety, it has been revealed.
Brave rail worker Samir Zitouni, 48, is understood to have grabbed the cookware from the galley kitchen and put himself in harm’s way to save people’s lives.
His heroic actions were commended last night in the House of Lords by Lord Hanson of Flint, who called for his ‘tremendous bravery’ to be recognised.
The rail worker’s neighbour Ray Zarb described his friend as a ‘very cool customer’ and ‘a fit guy’.
Speaking about Mr Zitouni’s bravery, he told Good Morning Britain: ‘It doesn’t surprise me, really, when you think about it. But knowing it, hearing it, and finding out it’s him, is absolutely incredible.’
Mr Zitouni, who has worked for London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for more than 20 years, was one of 11 people injured during the mass stabbing on board the 6.25 service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday night.
He remains in hospital in a stable but ‘critically unwell’ condition following the attack.
Home Office minister Lord Hanson said Mr Zitouni was ‘the sort of person who would normally be serving tea or refreshments’.
Brave rail worker Samir Zitouni, 48, is understood to have grabbed a frying pan from the galley kitchen to battle the suspected knifeman so passengers could flee to safety
Mr Zitouni, who has worked for London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for more than 20 years, was one of 11 people injured during the mass stabbing on board the 6.25 service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday night. Pictured: suspect
The rail worker’s neighbour Ray Zarb described his friend as a ‘very cool customer’ and ‘a fit guy’
‘But he has stepped up to the plate and put his own life at risk in taking really strong steps here,’ he told the House of Lords last night.
‘I think we should recognise that point that this is an act of tremendous bravery, and I wish him well.’
Paying tribute to his ‘incredible bravery’, David Horne, managing director at LNER, said yesterday: ‘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.’
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder.
In a statement, Mr Zitouni’s family said: ‘We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to Sam, and by the many well wishes for his recovery.
‘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.’
Meanwhile, a petition has been set up calling for Nottingham Forest fan and train passenger Stephen Crean to be honoured after he rushed to take on the alleged attacker with his bare hands.
Mr Crean, who was returning from watching Nottingham Forest draw 2-2 with Manchester United, said he heard the screams of injured passengers and walked through the buffet car to a carriage where he came face to face with the attacker.
Mr Crean recalled: ‘He had a great big oversized kitchen knife – it was as if it was a Japanese sword or something. He came towards me and said to me, “Do you want to die?”‘
He said he confronted the attacker to give another passenger time to close the buffet door behind him – allowing others to hide and potentially preventing dozens of injuries.
Mr Crean, who was subsequently locked in with the knifeman, was stabbed in his left hand, three times in his back, once on his bottom and twice in his head before he managed to find an empty toilet to hide in.
Last night, as BTP formally linked the investigation into the train attack to four other stabbing or knife incidents in the 25 hours leading up to the rampage, further details emerged about train driver Andrew Johnson’s efforts to divert the train to Huntingdon for the unscheduled stop.
Huntingdon stabbing victim Stephen Crean at his home in southwest London on Monday
Mr Crean, 61, was named as one of the victims of the knife rampage. A petition has been set up calling for him to be honoured for his bravery
A rail source said the driver was forced to override a door alarm triggered by a terrified passenger to prevent the train from stopping automatically, and then liaised with signallers to change the points in order for the service to be routed towards Huntingdon, instead of its next scheduled stop at Stevenage, further south.
The source added: ‘He had to slow the train down to 20mph in order to give them time to switch the train onto the slow line into Huntingdon.’
Sir Keir Starmer thanked the ‘heroic actions’ of train staff, including Mr Zitouni, who put themselves in harm’s way to save ‘countless lives’.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Zitouni ‘went to work on Saturday morning and left a hero’.
‘I know the British Transport Police have reviewed CCTV footage from what happened and he literally put himself in harm’s way. There will be people who are alive today because of his actions.’
She added: ‘He went to work on Saturday morning to do his job and he left work a hero.’
On Monday, Williams appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court charged with 11 attempted murder charges in connection with the train attack and an earlier DLR station attack.
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder
He also faces charges of possessing a bladed article and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was remanded in custody until a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.
The suspect is understood to have boarded the service at Peterborough before allegedly rampaging through the moving carriages.
Passengers ran through the vehicle, barricading themselves in toilets and behind the shutters of the onboard shop in the buffet car in a bid to protect themselves.