King welcomes those who showed bravery during train knife attack

King Charles has met a group of rail staff and passengers who had shown bravery during the Huntingdon train knife attack last month.

The group included railway worker Samir Zitouni, who was hailed for his efforts to save passengers, train driver Andrew Johnson, and Stephen Crean, who was stabbed in the hand when he intervened.

Eleven people were treated in hospital for injuries after the attack on the London-bound train, that had been diverted to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder related to the train attack.

There was much praise for the response of passengers and train crews during the incident on the service between Doncaster and London King’s Cross on a Saturday evening.

In Parliament, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute to the “breathtaking bravery” of those who had helped, including the “heroic acts of the passengers and train crew who intercepted the attacker”.

MPs had called for the highest civilian medal, the George Cross, to be awarded to those who had shown great bravery.

King Charles gave his own recognition with an audience at the Palace, where he posed for photographs with the visitors.

They included Andrew Johnson, the train driver who was praised by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander for diverting the train from the fast to the slow track after the alarm was raised.

A short hearing in the case against Mr Williams was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court earlier this month and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January 2026.