Soldier in serious condition after stabbing near barracks

The soldier was in uniform when he was attacked near his home on Tuesday.

The Home Office said it was not treating the stabbing as terror-related but "the result of a mental health episode".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: "I am shocked and appalled by the news."

The soldier, who is in his 40s, was attacked just before 18:00 BST in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder about 25 minutes later.

Mr Starmer added: "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."

SWNS A forensic investigator walks down the street with his back to the camera in the Sally Port Gardens areaSWNS

Families reported hearing screams as they sat down for dinner

The stabbing happened near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army's 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.

The soldier was taken to hospital, with Kent Police saying he was in a serious condition.

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 said they 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.

The head of the Army, Gen Sir Roly Walker, said he was saddened by the horrific and unprovoked attack.

He confirmed the victim was an officer in the Army.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on X the stabbing was "shocking and appalling".

The Army said it was "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," a spokesperson said.

"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 Kent Police spokesperson added: "A cordon is currently in place around the scene of the incident and inquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.

"Residents are advised to expect an ongoing police presence in the area."

'It wasn't pleasant'

At the scene, BBC reporter Aruna Iyengar said: "It's a still, quiet morning outside Sally Port Gardens in Chatham where yesterday’s horrific events unfolded.

"A police cordon cuts off both ends of the road where the attack took place.

"A man walking to the station this morning told me, ‘It happened as I was coming back from work - it wasn’t pleasant’.

"A woman walking her dogs said she saw helicopters and the air ambulance. She said her thoughts were with the man who was attacked and hoped he would recover."

-BBC