close
close
hsuses

Gillingham: Knife seized after attack on army officer

Theo

Image description, A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

  • Author, Jonathan Beale
  • Role, BBC defence correspondent

A British army officer who was stabbed near a barracks in Kent is in a serious but stable condition in hospital, police said.

The uniformed soldier, in his 40s, was attacked near his home in Gillingham on Tuesday. Shortly afterwards, a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Interior Ministry indicated that the stabbing was not classified as terrorist.

Police have now announced that several knives were recovered at the scene and that they are investigating the possibility that the incident was “mental health related”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told X he was “shocked and appalled”.

The soldier was attacked in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham, shortly before 6pm BST.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Woolley of Kent Police said: “The motive for the attack is currently unknown and is part of our ongoing investigation, although we are exploring the possibility that it could be mental health related.”

“We are also investigating possible connections between the location and the suspect.”

Sir Keir told the House of Commons: “Our thoughts are with him, his family and our armed forces who keep us safe.”

“We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Image description, Families reported hearing screams as they sat down to dinner

The stabbing occurred near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the 1st Regiment of the British Army’s Royal School of Military Engineering.

A woman who lived near the scene of the accident said she was eating dinner with her family when they heard a “tremendous scream.”

When they got to the window, they saw the attacker inflict a final stab wound on a person lying on the ground and then flee on a moped.

“It’s very, very scary,” she said.

The Army Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Roly Walker, expressed his sadness at the cruel and unprovoked attack.

The army said it had to “confirm with great regret that a soldier suffered serious injuries in an attack.”

“Our thoughts are with the soldier and his family and we ask that you respect their privacy during this difficult time,” a spokesman said.

“It wasn’t pleasant”

On the scene, BBC reporter Aruna Iyengar said: “It is a quiet, calm morning outside the Sally Port Gardens in Chatham, where yesterday’s horrific events unfolded.”

“A police cordon blocks both ends of the street where the attack took place.

“A woman walking her dogs said she saw helicopters and the rescue helicopter. She said her thoughts were with the man who was attacked and she hoped he recovered.”

Related Posts