Watch as senior minister voices Government's sympathy for people of Peterborough after train attack
The Government has voiced its sympathy to the people of Peterborough following the knife attack on board an intercity train that had just left the city’s station.
The words of comfort were voiced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden during a visit to Peterborough yesterday (November 6) to open the city’s new Youth Employment Hub.
He told the Peterborough Telegraph: “Peterborough has been in our heart this week because of the terrible attack that happened on the train on Saturday night and I know that people in Peterborough will feel very affected by that.
"So I want to say on behalf of the Government that our thoughts are with the people of Peterborough and all the victims of that terrible crime.
Mr McFadden added: “Knife crime is a real problem in the country and I have been touched by it in my own constituency too.
"We banned the online sale of Ninja swords and other large bladed weapons that can be used in these attacks.
"But there is certainly more to do and I think the whole community wants government, the police and any other agency that can contribute to this to come together and fight the scourge of knife crime.”
Eleven people were left with life-threatening injuries after the knife attack on board the 18.52 train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.on November 1.
At 7.42pm, shortly after leaving Peterborough station, 999 calls were received by the police reporting multiple stabbings and the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station where police boarded the train.
- Anthony Williams (32) of Langford Road, Peterborough appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning (November 3) charged with 11 counts of attempted murder plus one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article.
- Ten counts of attempted murder, one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm relate to the incident on board an LNER train at about 7.30pm on Saturday evening.
- The other charges relate to an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London on November 1.
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