Train Stabbing Sparks Outcry Over Police Secrecy and Public Safety
Police face backlash for delaying the release of the suspect’s identity after the attack that left eleven injured, as Reform Party figures call for transparency and stronger law enforcement.
The train on which the mass stabbing took place is driven away
Chris Radburn / AFP
Police face backlash for delaying the release of the suspect’s identity after the attack that left eleven injured, as Reform Party figures call for transparency and stronger law enforcement.
A 32-year-old man has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder following a brutal train stabbing on Saturday evening.
Police were criticised for taking almost 15 hours to say the suspect, Anthony Williams, was a black British-born man, despite guidance allowing for such details to be released sooner in light of the slow release of information after last year’s Southport triple murder.
One witness told the Express that the attacker “looked dead behind the eyes” while moving through the carriages, and that “he almost looked possessed.”
Police have so far ruled out terrorism, but have yet to uncover any other motive.
Responding to the initial reports, Reform leader Nigel Farage insisted that “we need to know who committed these awful attacks as soon as possible.”
The attack last night in Huntington was horrific.
My thoughts are with all the victims and their families.
We need to know who committed these awful attacks as soon as possible.
Reform MP Lee Anderson agreed with his leader’s assessment of the “horrific” attack, adding about the victims: “Just normal people going about their daily business and now they’re in hospital.”
Another man was initially arrested but was released on Sunday evening with no further action.
A government official said in light of the attack that “stop and search powers and facial recognition tools are vital in helping police tackle crime, protect the public and bring offenders to justice.”
Both of these measures have been criticised by civil liberty campaigners who say that “dangerously authoritarian surveillance is a threat to our privacy and freedoms,” and that ‘stop and search’ powers are “draconian.”
Five of the victims had been discharged from hospital as of Monday morning. Some of the others remained in critical condition.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
