Passengers, including a child, were left in shock as they witnessed a brutal knife attack unfold on a train in southeast London, a court heard. Rakeem Thomas, 19, is on trial for attempted murder after a viral video showed him repeatedly stabbing a man with a sword-like knife onboard a train between Shortlands and Beckenham Junction stations.
The incident, which took place during a three-minute journey, quickly escalated from a chance encounter between the two men into a violent and life-threatening assault, the jury at Thomas’ trial was told.
A woman on the train screamed, “f***ing stop it,” as Thomas continued to stab the victim while he lay on the ground. The prosecution alleges that Thomas fled the scene when the train arrived at Beckenham Junction, later telling his mother, “It was either him or me.
‘More Like a Sword’
Prosecutor Michael Williams, opening the trial, said Thomas boarded the train at Orpington and stood by the doors. When the train stopped at Shortlands, the victim, a man in his 20s, was standing at the exact spot where Thomas was positioned.
“There is no evidence that either male knew they were going to come face-to-face,” Williams told the jury. Immediately, violence started between the two men. The prosecution does not say this was a random attack on a stranger.”
The altercation initially appeared to be a physical struggle but escalated when the victim was thrown to the floor. Witnesses then noticed Thomas holding a knife, which some described as being “more like a sword” or a “Rambo knife.”
Thomas allegedly paused only once during the stabbing, taking a moment to catch his breath before continuing the attack. Passengers, trapped in the carriage with no escape, screamed for him to stop, but he ignored them, according to the prosecution.
‘It Was Either Him or Me’
After the train arrived at Beckenham Junction, Thomas fled the scene. Passengers helped the injured victim onto a platform bench, where a retired surgeon provided first aid. Paramedics, who arrived within 15 minutes, described the victim’s injuries as “too numerous to count,” including a severe chest wound that fractured his breastbone. The victim underwent life-saving surgery in the hospital.
Prosecutor Williams argued that the victim survived “despite the best efforts of Thomas,” who allegedly intended to kill him. The victim has refused to give a statement to police.
Thomas managed to evade two passengers who pursued him by jumping over a fence and eventually dumped the knife. He then made his way to Elmers End, where he convinced two women to let him into their taxi. They reportedly grew suspicious during the journey after seeing blood on him and overhearing his phone conversations.
“Don’t say that mum, it was either him or me,” Thomas allegedly said during one call. In another conversation, he reportedly said, “I disarmed him. He’s done. He’s finished.”
Defendant Claims Self-Defence
When Thomas was arrested the following day, he told police that the victim had previously stabbed him in 2020 or 2021. He claimed that the knife used in the attack belonged to the victim, but he managed to grab it first during the altercation, panicking as he tried to avoid being stabbed again.
Thomas said he “blacked out” and was unaware of how many times he stabbed the victim, maintaining that he acted in self-defence. He denies charges of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and affray, the latter relating to the fear caused to other passengers.
The trial continues.
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