Teenager charged with attempted murder remanded in police custody

Rakeem Thomas appeared in court on Saturday morning

Author: Rory GannonPublished 30th Mar 2024

A teenage man has been remanded in police custody after appearing in court charged with the attempted murder of another man on a train.

Rakeem Thomas, 19, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Saturday (March 30) in connection with the attack.

Speaking only to confirm his name, address and date of birth, Thomas - from the Beckenham area of South London - remained silent for the rest of the hearing.

Thomas was seen wearing a grey jumper as he appeared in court, where he was also charged with the possession of an offensive weapon.

British Transport Police confirmed that they had received reports of two men fighting on a train that been between Shortlands and Beckenham train stations on Wednesday (March 27th).

Footage from the attack saw a man brandishing a knife during the incident, with emergency services taking the victim to hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds.

The victim, a man in his 20s, currently remains in a "critical but stable condition" according to a police update on Thursday (March 28th).

Thomas was remanded in custody following the court appearance, and the case has been sent to the Old Bailey to be heard on April 26th.

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