A brave rail worker who suffered serious injuries during the Huntingdon knife attack has been pictured for the first time.
Samir Zitouni, 48, was one of 11 people injured during the mass stabbing on board a train on Saturday night.
Mr Zitouni, who has worked for London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for more than 20 years, remains in hospital in a stable but ‘critically unwell’ condition following the attack.
Paying tribute to his ‘incredible bravery’, David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: ‘In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him.
‘His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening.
‘Our thoughts and prayers remain with Sam and his family. We will continue to support them and wish him a full and speedy recovery.’
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder.
Samir Zitouni, 48, was one of 11 people injured during the mass stabbing on board a train on Saturday night
Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged in connection with a knife rampage on board an LNER train that unfolded on Saturday
In a statement, Mr Zitouni’s family said: ‘We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to Sam, and by the many well wishes for his recovery.
‘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.’
Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer thanked the ‘heroic actions’ of train staff, including Mr Zitouni, who put themselves in harm’s way to save ‘countless lives’.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Zitouni ‘went to work on Saturday morning and left a hero’.
‘I know the British Transport Police have reviewed CCTV footage from what happened and he literally put himself in harm’s way. There will be people who are alive today because of his actions.’
She added: ‘He went to work on Saturday morning to do his job and he left work a hero.’
The train sitting at the platform in Huntingdon on Sunday morning, after passengers and rail staff were attacked
On Monday, Williams appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court charged with 11 attempted murder charges in connection with the train attack and an earlier DLR station attack.
He also faces charges of possessing a bladed article and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was remanded in custody until a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.
The suspect is understood to have boarded the 6.25 LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross at Peterborough before allegedly rampaging through the moving carriages.
Passengers ran through the vehicle, barricading themselves in toilets and behind the shutters of the onboard shop in the buffet car in a bid to protect themselves.
Driver Andrew Johnson – a veteran of the second Gulf War – frantically worked with Network Rail staff to arrange for the LNER Azuma to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire.
As the train pulled into the station, cool-headed railway staff ushered passengers hurriedly down the platform as the suspect followed closely behind.
The alleged attacker, still brandishing a knife, crossed the railway tracks and leapt over a fence before being subdued by police.
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder
Hero driver Andrew Johnson (pictured) rapidly diverted the London-bound train to Huntingdon station after being alerted to the mass stabbing, enabling emergency services to act fast
Witness Thomas McLachlan, 19, from London, who was returning from a trip to Newcastle, described how people were leaving the train ‘drenched in blood’.
Terrorism has been ruled out as a motive, with the suspect not being known to MI5 or counter-terror services.
Tracy Easton, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said the number of charges would be ‘kept under review’ as further enquiries are carried out.
She said: ‘We worked closely with British Transport Police to review a huge volume of evidence including CCTV. The number of charges will be kept under review as this continues to progress.
‘We know the devastating impact the events on Saturday’s train has had and how the incident shocked the entire country. Our thoughts remain with all those affected.’
A 35–year–old man who was arrested at the scene has since been released with no further action after police established he was not involved in the attack.
LNER boss David Horne said the firm was ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ by Saturday’s events.
Ten patients were taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and one patient self-presented, British Transport Police said today.
Six have since been discharged, four remain stable and one – Mr Zitouni – remains stable but critically unwell.
