‘Blood-curdling screams’ as soldier knifed in ‘targeted attack’ - as witness tells how victim's wife rushed to help

24 July 2024, 08:45 | Updated: 24 July 2024, 10:20

• Do you know what happened? Email crime@lbc.co.uk

Eye-witneses have told LBC of the terrifying ‘screaming’ as a soldier was knifed while out for a walk in a savage ‘targeted’ attack by a man who allegedly licked blood from the blade after the stabbing.

The victim, in his 40s, was stabbed at around 6pm yesterday about 200 yards from Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, Kent.

He was attacked by a man in a ski mask wearing a bomber jacket who arrived on a scooter, according to witnesses.

One eye-witness told LBC this morning: “We heard the screaming, shouting.

“I walked to the corner about a minute and a half after the incident.

“It was pandemonium.

“You could just see the man on the floor - they told the guy to stay still with all the multiple wounds he had.

“This guy… did nothing to the guy that had stabbed him. “

Mr Reynolds said the victim’s wife was “running round screaming asking for help.”

“She seemed to be in good health considering the situation… fit enough to run around and ask people for help.

“She was trying to get any type of first aid she could.

“She was asking other army colleagues to get out their cars and drive on the pavement to get around the cars that had all stopped. She was just all over the place as you can imagine. She was directing traffic on to the pavement to get to her husband.”

• Do you know what happened? Email crime@lbc.co.uk

One 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.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roland Walker posted on Twitter this morning: "I am deeply saddened by the horrific and unprovoked attack on an officer yesterday.

"Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to defend our nation and deserve to be respected.

"My thoughts and best wishes are with him and his family. They have the full support of the chain of command as they recover from this horrendous incident."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted: "The stabbing of a soldier in Kent last night is shocking and appalling. All our thoughts are with the soldier & his family. I am receiving updates from @Kent_police."

Horrified witnesses said the attacker was armed with two kitchen knives and had repeatedly stabbed the victim in a chilling echo of the fatal attack on fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

The soldier reportedly suffered injuries to his face and body and was airlifted to hospital, The Sun reports.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked and appalled" at the news.

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, he said: "I am shocked and appalled by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.

"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."

Defence Secretary, John Healey: "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."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “We are aware of an emerging incident in the Chatham area which may have involved a soldier.

“As the circumstances are currently under investigation by Kent Police, we cannot comment further.”

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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