Reform Party members faced strong criticism for allegedly attempting to stoke fear and create division following the recent incident on a Huntingdon train. During a speech in Parliament, Lib Dem spokesperson Max Wilkinson accused unidentified hard-right individuals of trying to exploit the situation for political purposes. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood assured lawmakers that necessary actions would be taken based on the lessons learned from the tragic attack.
Mahmood informed the Parliament that the suspect, Anthony Williams, 32, who faces charges of attempted murder, was not on the radar of security services or counter-terrorism units. She highlighted the surge of hateful racism on social media platforms in the aftermath of the LNER train assault.
It was disclosed later that Williams was a UK-born individual. Wilkinson condemned the immediate spread of speculation about the perpetrator’s ethnicity and race on social media, leading to racist and Islamophobic comments. He criticized certain hard-right political figures, including Reform Party members, for exploiting the incident to sow fear and discord.
In response, Mahmood expressed dismay at the ease with which misinformation spreads on social media during such events. She praised the swift and heroic actions of emergency service personnel, train staff, and passengers who intervened to save lives during the attack.
Mahmood commended the bravery of individuals on the train, particularly mentioning a crew member who courageously confronted the attacker and sustained critical injuries in the process. Williams appeared in court facing multiple charges related to the incident, including attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon.
The LNER staff member injured in the attack remains in a critical but stable condition, along with others hospitalized. Williams also faces charges for a separate incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station. The district judge remanded Williams into custody for a court appearance on December 1.
The assault occurred shortly after the train departed from Peterborough station, with passengers taking quick action by triggering emergency alarms and diverting the train to Huntingdon.
