Army officer seriously hurt in unprovoked stabbing attack near barracks

Shocked witnesses have described hearing screams as an Army officer was repeatedly stabbed in a “horrific and unprovoked” attack near a barracks.

Locals rushed to help the serviceman, who is in his 40s, after he was attacked by a masked knifeman, who fled the scene on a moped.

He suffered “serious injuries” and was airlifted to hospital after the attack in Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham, Kent, which happened at 5.55pm on Tuesday.

The attack is being investigated by Kent Police and has not been passed to the region’s counter-terrorism squad. There has been no information from the force about whether it is being treated as terrorism or not.

Alex Reynolds, 38, who lives near the scene, said he heard screams and went outside to see a man wearing a cream camouflage military uniform lying on the ground, surrounded by people trying to help.

Mr Reynolds’ Ring doorbell footage captured the screams, with someone heard shouting: “What the hell are you doing?”

He was told that the victim goes for a walk every night at around 6pm.

Another witness, who lives near the Brompton Medical Centre that is close to the scene, described the officer’s wife asking for medical help.

She said she heard the woman say: “My husband has been stabbed – is there a first aider?”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “shocked and appalled” by the stabbing, while head of the Army General Sir Roly Walker condemned the attack.

Sir Roly said: “I am deeply saddened by the horrific and unprovoked attack on an officer yesterday.

“Our armed forces make extraordinary sacrifices to defend our nation and deserve to be respected.

“My thoughts and best wishes are with him and his family. They have the full support of the chain of command as they recover from this horrendous incident.”

One woman living near the scene said she was sitting down to dinner with her family when they heard a “huge scream”.

As they got to the window, she saw the attacker inflicting a final stab wound on a person who was on the ground, before fleeing on a moped.

“It’s very, very scary,” she said.

Defence Secretary John Healey wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Shocking to hear of an attack on a soldier in Kent.

“My thoughts are with the soldier and his family, who deserve privacy at this difficult time. On behalf of the Government, I wish him a swift recovery.”

Another witness, who rushed to the victim’s aid, told The Sun newspaper the attacker ran at the soldier and stabbed him repeatedly.

The victim had “wounds all over his body”, the witness said, adding: “Blood was everywhere as I tried to apply pressure to his wounds until the police arrived.

“When the guy’s wife came out and started trying to pull the guy off he didn’t even try to hurt her.”

Kent Police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at 6.20pm.

The road where police said the incident took place is near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.

An Army spokesman said: “We’re very sorry to confirm that a soldier has sustained serious injuries in an attack in Chatham, Kent.

“Our thoughts are with the soldier and their family and we request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

“We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation.

“Anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any relevant information should contact Kent Police.”

Kent Police said in a statement: “An investigation has been launched following reports of a serious assault in Gillingham.

“Kent Police was called at around 5.55pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to reports a man in his 40s had suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds in Sally Port Gardens.

“The victim was taken to hospital, where his condition is described as serious.

“Officers attended the scene and at approximately 6.20pm a 24-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

“A cordon is currently in place around the scene of the incident and inquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.

“Local residents can expect to see an ongoing police presence in the area.”