A soldier was stabbed repeatedly outside of Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent (Picture: KMG/SWNS)
A British soldier is fighting for his life after being wounded in a frenzied knife attack outside an army base.
The victim, in his 40s, was found grievously injured 200m away from Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent, at around 6pm.
A horrified eyewitness said the assailant, wearing a ski mask and a NASA bomber jacket, leapt off a moped and repeatedly attacked the soldier in a frenzied attack.
About 20 seconds after the assault, 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.
But the attacker allegedly chased him down the road and launched a second attack upon the victim.
Witnesses described hearing a ‘blood-curdling scream’ from a woman thought to be the victim’s wife, who ran outside to stop the attack along with a group of horrified locals.
Moments after the assault, it is claimed he held up one of the bloodied weapons in front of the group of onlookers and licked it clean.
The attacker stabbed him repeatedly in a ‘frenzied attack’ wth two kitchen knives (Picture: Supplied)
A witness told The Sun that the soldier, who is in a serious condition in hospital, received injuries to his face and the rest of his body during the frenzied attack.
They told the publication: ‘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.’
A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Kent Police confirmed.
The motive for the assault is still unknown, but police have refused to rule out terrorism as a cause.
Photos from social media showed a heavy emergency service presence in the area following the stabbing.
The stabbing happened on Sally Port Gardens, Chatham, Kent (Picture: KMG/SWNS)
In a statement, 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 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 spokesperson for Kent Police 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.’
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