A MASKED motorbike knifeman who allegedly carried out a bloody rampage near a barracks was “looking for a soldier to attack”, according to a witness.
Onlookers were appalled as a man armed with two kitchen knives set upon the soldier outside Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, Kent, yesterday.
A witness told The Sun: “The guy was looking for a soldier to attack.”
They continued: “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 officers were called around 6pm on Tuesday evening to reports of an assault in Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham.
A man, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder within half an hour.
The force has refused to rule out that the attack was terror-related.
Attacks on soldiers in Britain are rare.
In 2013, two men inspired by al-Qaida killed soldier Lee Rigby in a London street, running him down with a car before stabbing him to death.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, today Defence Secretary John Healey said: “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.”
The witness went on to say the attacker leapt off a moped and sprinted towards the soldier, in his 40s, stabbing him repeatedly in a frenzied assault.
After about 20 seconds, the victim – understood to be in full uniform – managed to get back on his feet and stagger towards his house, just 50 yards from the barracks.
The attacker, sporting a ski mask and a NASA bomber jacket, allegedly chased him down and launched a second vicious assault.
A woman – believed to be the soldier’s wife – then ran outside and tried to pull the knifeman off him.
Witnesses described hearing a “blood-curdling scream” as the attacker continued with his assault.
Moments later he ran his finger across the knife and licked it in front of shocked bystanders, one person said.
The witness, who rushed to the soldier’s aid, said he was left with “wounds all over his body”.
He said the soldier suffered serious injuries to his face and went on to say: “Stab wounds covered his body.
“A deep gash to the back of his left leg.”
Alex Reynolds, who lives opposite the road where the attack happened, told The Sun this morning: “The first thing I heard was a piercing scream.
“When I first went down there I thought it was a scuffle between two people, but as soon as we got there we realised it was more.
“I saw a man on the floor.
“We stayed down there for about half an hour until they put a cordon up, nobody could really believe it had happened.”
She added: “I walk my son to the nursery and back morning and evening, there’s lots of uniformed military about.
“They are among the most friendly people in the area.”
A 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 giving a final stab wound to a victim who was on the floor.
She could not see if the person was wearing a military uniform.
“It’s very, very scary”, she said.
Brompton Barracks, which is home to the Royal School of Military Engineering, was said to have been placed into ‘lockdown’ by Army chiefs.
It is understood squaddies on-site were told in a tannoy message that they must assemble in buildings on site and could not leave “for any reason until authorised”.
They were also instructed to use ID badges to access the meeting point.
Soldiers were said to have been held for more than 30 minutes while cops ensured there was no active threat before being allowed to return to their quarters and homes.
A force spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called at around 5.55pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to a report of a serious assault in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham.
“A man in his 40s suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is currently described as serious.
“Officers attended and at around 6.20pm they arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
“A cordon is currently in place around the scene of the incident and enquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.
“Residents are advised to expect an ongoing police presence in the area.”
An Army spokesperson 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 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.”
