British Army officer stabbed in horror attack near barracks in Kent

A British Army officer was stabbed near barracks in Kent and is now in hospital in a serious but stable condition, police reported.

The soldier, in his 40s, was attacked on Tuesday near his home in Gillingham. A 24-year-old man was arrested shortly after on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Home Office has indicated that the stabbing is not being treated as a terror-related incident. Police have seized several knives from the scene and are investigating the possibility that the incident may be related to mental health issues.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his shock and dismay on X. The attack took place just before 18:00 BST in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham. Acting Chief Superintendent Richard Woolley of Kent Police stated that the motivation for the attack is still unknown and forms part of ongoing enquiries, including exploring any links between the location and the suspect.

Sir Keir also addressed the House of Commons, extending thoughts and wishes for a swift recovery to the soldier and support to his family and the Armed Forces.

Local families reported hearing screams as they sat down for dinner. The attack happened near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army's 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment. A nearby resident recounted hearing a "huge scream" and witnessing the attacker fleeing on a moped after inflicting a final stab wound.

General Sir Roly Walker, head of the Army, expressed sadness over the unprovoked attack. The Army confirmed that a soldier had sustained serious injuries, requesting privacy for the soldier and his family.

At the scene, BBC reporter Aruna Iyengar described a quiet morning with a police cordon around Sally Port Gardens. A woman walking her dogs reported seeing helicopters and the air ambulance, and expressed her hopes for the soldier's recovery.