A man charged with the attempted murder of a uniformed soldier who was repeatedly stabbed near his barracks has been remanded in custody after a brief court appearance.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton was airlifted to hospital after being knifed around 12 times by a masked attacker near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, Kent, on Tuesday evening.
Anthony Esan, 24, appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court this morning, having been arrested near his home in Rochester about 35 minutes after the knife attack.
Prosecutor Rajni Prashar told the court: ‘A member of the public called 999 to report a male had been stabbed.
‘It was then reported that the victim was a soldier in uniform.’
She told the court a man was seen ‘running up behind’ the Army officer before he ‘pulled the soldier to the ground’ and stabbed him ‘repeatedly’.
Lt Col Teeton is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Witnesses described hearing the soldier’s wife screaming at the attacker while trying to fend him off.
The motive for the attack was unclear but Kent Police said detectives are ‘keeping an open mind’ and ‘exploring a number of lines of inquiry’, including the possibility it was mental health-related.
A spokesperson said: ‘Detectives investigating the serious assault of a soldier in Gillingham have charged a man with attempted murder.
‘Kent Police was called to Sally Port Gardens at around 5.55pm on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, to a report that the victim, a man in his 40s, had suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds.
‘He was taken to a hospital for treatment and his condition is currently described as serious but stable.
‘Anthony Esan, 24, was arrested near his home address in Mooring Road, Rochester, at approximately 6.30pm the same day and has now been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
‘He is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 25.’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the attack.
Army chief General Sir Roly Walker said: ‘Our armed forces make extraordinary sacrifices and deserve to be respected.’
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