Police have been granted more time to quiz the suspect in a horrific knife attack on a soldier near an Army Barracks in Kent.
The attack on the uniformed officer is not thought to be terror-related and the suspected attacker may have mental health problems, police have said.
Police said they were called around 5.55pm on Tuesday to a report of a serious assault in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham.
The victim, a soldier in uniform in his 40s, suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds and was airlifted to hospital for treatment. He is in a serious but stable condition. Investigators recovered a number of knives from the scene
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at 6.20pm in Mooring Road, Rochester.
On Wednesday evening Kent Police said it had been granted more time to hold him in custody.
“As he has now been in custody for more than 24 hours, an extension has been granted that gives officers more time to conduct enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident," a spokesperson said.
Cordons have been set up at both the scene of the incident and the scene of the arrest.Neighbours described seeing a handcuffed man being led away by police, and investigators remained at a house in the road on Wednesday, with sniffer dogs also being used in part of the road. Police said a number of knives were seized.
Head of the Army, General Sir Roly Walker, condemned the stabbing as "horrific and unprovoked", while Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked and appalled".
Sir Keir opened his first Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday by telling MPs: “I know the whole House will be shocked by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.
“Our thoughts are with him, his family and our armed forces who serve to keep us safe.We wish him a swift recovery.”
Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards called on the public not to speculate on the reasons for the attack, and to support the injured soldier's family.
"It's horrific, it's hugely concerning this is happening on peaceful streets like this," she said.
Acting Chief Superintendent Richard Woolley of Kent Police said: “This was an upsetting incident for all concerned and our best wishes go to the victim, his family and those who witnessed the incident.
“Residents will experience an increased police presence in the Gillingham area and I would like to reassure everyone that officers responded quickly to take a man into custody and we do not currently believe anyone else was involved.
“The motivation for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of our ongoing enquiries, although we are exploring the possibility that it may be mental health-related. We are also investigating any possible links between the location and the suspect.
“There is no further information at this time to suggest there are any wider threats to the local community including members of the armed forces.”
A witness told The Sun that a man armed with two kitchen knives leapt off a moped and attacked the soldier in a frenzied assault.
The witness said the victim managed to stagger away but was chased down by the assailant, said to be wearing a ski mask and a NASA bomber jacket, who then attacked him a second time.
Another eyewitness said the soldier was wearing military uniform, and had been walking home with his partner, who tried in vain to pull the attacker away.
BREAKING: Forensics and army personnel are at the scene of a serious incident in Sally Port, near Brompton Barracks, Chatham. A crime scene has been set up on the footpath outside military accommodation. It is understood a soldier has been airlifted to hospital. pic.twitter.com/Mxat5dZSQm
— Brad Harper (@BradDAHarper) July 23, 2024
“The attacker was going for him and stabbed him about 12 times," the onlooker told KentOnline.
“There were about seven of us there who witnessed it. The soldier was in uniform.
“His wife tried to pull the attacker off. [The attacker] didn’t want her though, he just wanted the soldier.
“Nobody else in the vicinity was in danger. The only person he was targeting was the soldier he attacked."
The Army declined to comment on reports that the soldier wearing uniform.
According to The Sun, witnesses described hearing a “blood-curdling scream” as the assault took place.
A bystander reportedly saw the attacker run his finger across the knife and lick it in front of shocked witnesses.
The soldier was said by the witness, who rushed to his aid, to have been left with “wounds all over his body.”
The road where police said the incident occurred is located near to Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.
Machete attack on a British solider in Gillingham pic.twitter.com/U124HIcXfV
— Teta’sTrickyReds 🇬🇧🏴 (@gooner_kent) July 23, 2024
An Army spokesperson said they were “very sorry to confirm that a soldier has sustained serious injuries in an attack”.
“Our thoughts are with the soldier and their family and we request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time,” they added.
“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.”
A cordon is in place at the scene and an ongoing police presence will be in the area while enquiries continue.
General Sir Roly Walker, the Army’s Chief of the General Staff, said the attack was “horrific and unprovoked”.
In a post on X, he 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.”
The Prime Minister earlier said he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.
I am shocked and appalled by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 24, 2024
All our thoughts are with the soldier, his family and our Armed Forces community, who serve to keep all of us safe.
I wish him a swift recovery.
“All our thoughts are with the soldier, his family and our Armed Forces community, who serve to keep all of us safe,” he wrote in a post on X. “I wish him a swift recovery.”
The stabbing was also condemned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Defence Secretary John Healey.
