A professional footballer suffered a slash wound to his bicep during a violent incident on a high-speed train heading to London on Saturday night, authorities disclosed today.

Jonathan Gjoshe, a defender for Scunthorpe United, is currently hospitalized with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to a statement from his club.

The 22-year-old, who transferred to the Lincolnshire team from Corinthian Casuals in September, is among 11 individuals injured in the attack.

Nine people remain in critical condition, while five have been released from the hospital as of last night.

In a court appearance today, Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, faced charges for 11 counts of attempted murder. The charges relate to an incident involving a large kitchen knife on November 1.

Williams is also accused of attacking a man with a knife earlier that day at a Docklands Light Railway station in east London.

A Scunthorpe United statement said:  ‘We can confirm registered player Jonathan Gjoshe was one of the victims affected by the shocking attack on an LNER train bound for London on Saturday evening.

‘We can confirm that Jonathan sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack, but currently remains in hospital. Due to the ongoing investigations taking place, we are currently unable to update further.

‘Everyone at the club, from the Board, management and his teammates, along with all staff behind the scenes, sends our heartfelt well wishes to Jonathan for a full recovery, which is also extended to all the victims on board the train’.

Today the man suspected of carrying out the attack was pictured for the first time as he appeared in court today. 

Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, appeared at the city’s Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with 11 counts of attempted murder.

Williams is also accused of attempting to kill a man after a passenger was stabbed at Pontoon Dock Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in east London shortly after 12.45am on November 1.

It is alleged the victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife.

Hours later, Williams is accused of going on a knife rampage on the high-speed 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to London’s King’s Cross, where he is accused of attempting to murder 10 other people.

He is also facing two charges of possession of a bladed article on both the train and at the DLR station in London, and of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Williams appeared in the dock today wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms. He was in handcuffs, accompanied by four prison officers.

The defendant spoke only to confirm his name and address during the six minute hearing, mumbling to the court that he was of no fixed abode.

Documents allege that he used a ‘large kitchen knife’ in both incidents. 

No application was made for bail.

Today another victim, Stephen Creen, 61, revealed how he confronted the train attacker armed with only his fists.

He was stabbed in the left hand after the attacker warned him: ‘Do you want to die?’. 

The inkmaker was travelling back to London after seeing his beloved Nottingham Forest draw with Manchester United at the City Ground.

He told the Telegraph how he jumped out of his seat to try to end the knife rampage without a weapon of his own because “it did not dawn on me not to”.

Mr Creen said: ‘He had a great big oversized kitchen knife – it was as if it was a Japanese sword or something. He came towards me and said to me, “Do you want to die?”. That’s what he said.”

Williams allegedly attacking a male police officer in custody after being arrested, leaving him with a ‘broken nose’, Ms Olaide said.

District Judge Kenneth Sheraton remanded Williams in custody and adjourned the case for a further hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1. 

It is understood Williams is not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing, and had not been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent. 

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of the British Transport Police said: ‘The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority.

‘Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences.’

Cambridgeshire Police has now said three knife-related incidents linked to the Huntingdon train attack suspect happened on Friday and Saturday.

In a statement, the force said: ‘We are aware of three incidents that occurred in Peterborough on Friday evening, October 31, and Saturday morning, November 1.

‘The first incident of a man with a knife at a barbers in Fletton happened at 7.25pm on Friday but was reported to us at 9.10pm – two hours after the incident occurred.

‘At the time of reporting the man was no longer there and had not returned, so we did not send officers, but a crime was raised.

‘The second incident was reported to us at 9.25am on Saturday again by the barbers in Fletton while the man was still at the scene. Officers were deployed to the location and arrived within 18 minutes.

‘Upon searching the area, officers were unable to locate the man or identify him and a crime was raised.

‘There was also a third incident that police also believe may be linked which also happened on Friday 31 October at 7.10pm, where a 14-year-old was stabbed by a man with a knife in the city centre. They were taken to Peterborough City Hospital with minor injuries and were later discharged.

‘The offender had left the scene when the call was made and despite a search of the area by officers and a police dog, the offender was not identified. A crime was raised and an investigation commenced, with scenes of crime attending.

‘We are currently reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences.

‘British Transport Police retain primacy for the overall investigation, which will include these three incidents.

‘We voluntarily referred ourselves to the IOPC for independent scrutiny of these incidents, as is standard practice in these cases.’

 

Security has been ramped up at train stations in the wake of the attack. The LNER Azuma train involved left Huntingdon station this morning; the station itself is closed until the end of the day but the railway passing through has reopened.

Saturday’s attack saw brave train staff and passengers intervene in a bid to stop the alleged attacker as he went through the train with a knife.

The suspect is understood to have boarded the train at Peterborough before allegedly rampaging through the moving train.

Passengers ran through the carriages, 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.

An LNER worker in the cafe suffered the most egregious injuries trying to defend fellow passengers from the attacker. 

He is in a ‘critical but stable’ condition today, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

She said: ‘There are people who are alive today because of his actions and his bravery. He went in to do his job and he left work a hero.’

A Nottingham Forest fan travelling home from a match against Manchester United was also stabbed after bravely approaching the alleged attacker, it is understood. 

Despite warnings from fellow passengers not to approach the knifeman due to his smaller stature, Stephen Crean reportedly told another Forest fan he was ‘going to go confront him’. 

Mr Crean was later seen at Huntingdon station, visibly injured and receiving medical attention. 

In a heartfelt Facebook post about the football fan, Munster Forest wrote: ‘I have known him for at least 10 years and he is one of the gentlest souls you could meet. 

‘He bravely put himself in front of some children to protect them. What a hero he is!’

Police had initially used the codeword Plato – for a ‘marauding terror attack’ – as reports of the incident came in. 

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 since been ruled out as a motive and Ms Alexander said today that the suspect had not been 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. 

Footage obtained by the Mail appeared to show him scream ‘it’s not me’ as he was tasered by police officers who mistook him for the attacker. 

LNER boss David Horne said the firm was ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ by Saturday’s events.