Train hero who shielded passengers during knife attack named

3 hours ago 4

London: A train worker has been hailed as a hero for shielding passengers from a horrifying knife attack on a high-speed service to London, as he and other victims undergo hospital treatment for severe injuries.

Samir Zitouni, 48, has been named as the customer host working on the train when a man began stabbing passengers, sparking fear and chaos when he moved through the carriages in search of victims.

Samir Zitouni suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack at the weekend.

British ministers called Zitouni a hero, and his family thanked hospital staff for caring for him when he suffered life-threatening wounds in the attack.

Police have charged Anthony Williams, a 32-year-old British national, with 11 counts of attempted murder, one of actual bodily harm and one of possessing a bladed article. He appeared in court on Monday but did not enter a plea, and he is due to return to court on December 1.

Zitouni, known as Sam, has worked for the London North Eastern Railway for 20 years and appears to have been one of the first to confront the attacker when he began stabbing people, apparently at random.

Witnesses described the train conductor shielding passengers from the attacker and being stabbed as a result, while people ran through the carriages to seek safety by locking themselves in toilets or the buffet car.

“We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to Sam, and by the many well wishes for his recovery,” his family said.

“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.”

The staff on the train have not spoken publicly about the attack and most witnesses saw the aftermath of the initial attacks, with few coming forward at this stage to describe the actions of the conductor.

One witness who saw the attacker stabbing passengers, Amira Ostalski, told the BBC the conductor had protected passengers and been injured as a result, but she said this was based on her conversations with others on the train.

LNER managing director David Horne wished Zitouni a speedy recovery.

“In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him,” he said.

“His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening.

The BBC obtained an image of Anthony Williams in Peterborough the evening before the alleged train attack.

The train driver, Andrew Johnson, has also been praised for contacting a signaller to ensure the train was diverted from its high-speed line so it could be brought to a halt at Huntingdon station.

“The action I took is the same as any other driver,” he said.

“I think my colleagues on board were the real heroes, and I’d like to pay tribute to their bravery.”

The British Transport Police said the time taken from the first phone call to emergency services to the arrest of the suspect at Huntingdon was eight minutes.

Police have charged the attacker with attempted murder over an incident at a light rail station in London on the night before the high-speed rail attack and are investigating his possible links to a series of violent incidents over the same 24 hours in and around his home town of Peterborough.

The attack on the LNER train left 11 people in hospital – 10 taken by ambulance and one who self-presented later. Most have been discharged, but four remain in hospital in a stable condition.

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