A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a violent incident near a barracks in southeast England, police reported on Wednesday. The British Army confirmed that a soldier in his 40s was seriously injured in the attack, which occurred in the town of Gillingham, about 30 miles southeast of London.
The soldier was airlifted to a hospital for urgent treatment.As of now, the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his shock and concern over the incident via a statement on social network X. “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,” Starmer wrote.
Defense Secretary John Healey also condemned the attack, describing it as “shocking.”
According to Kent Police, the assault occurred on Tuesday evening. Witnesses reported that the attacker, who was wearing a ski mask and riding a moped, struck the soldier before fleeing the scene. The suspect was apprehended by authorities within 30 minutes of the incident. Kent Police have not disclosed the suspect’s name, in accordance with British legal protocols, until charges are formally pressed.
The scene of the attack, a road near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment, was cordoned off by police on Wednesday morning. Crime scene tape and police vehicles were visible at both ends of the tree-lined road. The Army has not confirmed reports suggesting that the soldier was in uniform at the time of the attack.
The Army issued a statement requesting privacy for the injured soldier and his family, stating, “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.”
Attacks on British soldiers are relatively rare. The most notable recent case occurred in 2013, when two men influenced by al-Qaida killed soldier Lee Rigby in London, running him down with a car before stabbing him.
The soldier was airlifted to a hospital for urgent treatment.As of now, the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his shock and concern over the incident via a statement on social network X. “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,” Starmer wrote.
Defense Secretary John Healey also condemned the attack, describing it as “shocking.”
According to Kent Police, the assault occurred on Tuesday evening. Witnesses reported that the attacker, who was wearing a ski mask and riding a moped, struck the soldier before fleeing the scene. The suspect was apprehended by authorities within 30 minutes of the incident. Kent Police have not disclosed the suspect’s name, in accordance with British legal protocols, until charges are formally pressed.
The scene of the attack, a road near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment, was cordoned off by police on Wednesday morning. Crime scene tape and police vehicles were visible at both ends of the tree-lined road. The Army has not confirmed reports suggesting that the soldier was in uniform at the time of the attack.
The Army issued a statement requesting privacy for the injured soldier and his family, stating, “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.”
Attacks on British soldiers are relatively rare. The most notable recent case occurred in 2013, when two men influenced by al-Qaida killed soldier Lee Rigby in London, running him down with a car before stabbing him.
