Train worker recalls repelling Huntingdon attacker with frying pan

A train staff member who used a frying pan against a man accused of trying to kill 10 people on board said he did not want to "give up until the train stopped", a court has heard.

Samir Zitouni was working on the York to London King's Cross LNER service on 1 November last year when Anthony Williams attacked, leading to an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Cambridge Crown Court heard Zitouni said he was trying to hit the knife Williams was holding and "not let him pass".

Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, denies 10 counts of attempted murder, and four other alleged attempted murders in earlier incidents in Peterborough and London.

Jurors were played a video interview with Zitouni, who watched on from the public gallery.

He said he saw a crowd of people come through shouting "there's a guy with a knife", to which he said "a guy with a knife, are you sure?".

The court has heard both of Zitouni's lungs had been punctured and he needed four blood transfusions, chest drains and the assistance of a ventilator.

Jurors have heard from another injured passenger, Raza Aslam, that Zitouni "was rushing backwards and forwards like a busy beaver trying to get different things" including trolleys and pans to defend the passengers.

Zitouni said he had taken the pan, then "the first thing I saw was the blade of the knife".

He said he was saying: "No, man. No, man". Zitouni asked the attacker to stop, offering help, and saying he thought that "was better than swearing at him".

Jurors have been shown the CCTV footage from the train, and previously heard Zitouni was said to have told the defendant: "We love you, we can help you."