A SOLDIER is fighting for his life after a brutal knife attack outside an army base.
Witnesses were horrified as a man armed with two kitchen knives set upon the soldier outside Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, Kent, at around 6pm.
A horrified witness told The Sun 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 soldier, 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 masked attacker, sporting a ski mask and a NASA bomber jacket, allegedly chased him down and launched a second vicious attack.
A woman – believed to be the soldier’s wife – then ran outside and tried to pull the knifeman off.
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, a shocked bystander said.
The witness, who rushed to the soldier’s aid, said he was left with “wounds all over his body.”
He went on: “Part of the soldier’s face was hanging off.
“Stab wounds covered his body.
“A deep gash to the back of his left leg.
“Blood was everywhere as I tried to apply pressure to his wounds until the police arrived.
“The guy was looking for a soldier to attack.
“When the guy’s wife came out and started trying to pull the guy off he didn’t even try to hurt her.
“He only had his sights set on hurting a British soldier.”
Kent Police have refused to rule out that the attack was terror-related.
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.”
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.
