Man arrested after British soldier stabbed and seriously injured in attack near barracks

Defence Minister John Healey called the attack “shocking”.

“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 speedy recovery,” Healey wrote on the social network X.

Kent Police said officers were called to an attack in the town of Gillingham, about 50 kilometers southeast of London, on Tuesday evening.

A suspect was arrested within half an hour, police said. British police do not name suspects until charges have been brought against them.

The street where police said the attack occurred is near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1st Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment. On Wednesday morning, both ends of the tree-lined street were cordoned off with police cars and police tape. The army did not confirm media reports that the soldier was wearing uniform at the time of the attack.

“Our thoughts are with the soldier and his family and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time,” the army said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation.”

Attacks on soldiers are rare in Britain. In 2013, two men inspired by al-Qaeda killed soldier Lee Rigby on a London street by running him over with a car and stabbing him to death.