Moment ‘masked motorbike knifeman’ is arrested after soldier stabbed in attack (2024)

This is the moment an alleged moped-riding knifeman was arrested after a soldier was stabbed up to a dozen times with a 10-inch kitchen knife.

The uniformed serviceman, aged in his 40s, was set upon around 200m from Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent, at around 6pm on Tuesday.

His attacker – described as wearing a ski mask and a NASA bomber jacket – is said to have brandished two blades before launching his 20-second rampage.

Horrified witnesses described hearing a ‘blood-curdling scream’ from a woman thought to be the soldier’s wife as she desperately tried to stop the attack.

Despite managing to get back to his feet and stagger towards his home 50 yards from the barracks, the knifeman is said to have chased the victim down the road and launched a second onslaught.

He was then said to have held up one of the bloodied weapons in front of the group of onlookers and licked it clean.

The victim’s condition is serious but stable, police said today.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and several knives have been seized.

The motive for the assault is unknown but it is thought to have been mental health-related rather than terror-related.

One resident, who wished not to be named, said he first saw an unmarked police car at around 6.10pm and then three or four police cars turned up with armed police.

‘He was staying there with (police),’ he said of the suspect.

‘It was very calm, no struggling and must have been 20 minutes later took him to a car at the end of the green.’

Another man, who wants to remain anonymous, added: ‘I looked out of the window. They were leading him into the car.

‘Saw the guy in handcuffs (with) about six police officers around him.

‘About 30 minutes after that sniffer dogs came round.’

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.

They told the newspaper: ‘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.’

Ring doorbell footage from Alex Reynolds, who lives close by, captured a woman screaming ‘what the f**k are you doing?’, ‘f***ing hell’ and ‘somebody call 999’.

Mr Reynolds said the soldier’s wife ‘came out and was telling other squaddies to get out of their cars and help’.

‘She was getting as many people to try and help her husband,’ he added.

Another witness told KentOnline: ‘The attacker was going for him and stabbed him about 12 times.

‘This was with two kitchen knives, about nine to 10 inches long, and there were about seven of us there who witnessed it. The soldier was in uniform.

‘He works at the barracks, lives in Sally Port Gardens and was walking home. His wife tried to pull the attacker off. [The attacker] didn’t want her though, he just wanted the soldier.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the attack.

Writing on X, he added: ‘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.’

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.’

Defence Secretary John Healey said: ‘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.’

The head of the Army said the attack was ‘horrific and unprovoked’.

In a post on X, General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, said: ‘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

Photos from social media showed a heavy emergency service presence in the area following the stabbing.

Police officials said at 6.40pm today that detectives have been granted more time to hold the suspect in custody.

Acting Chief Superintendent Richard Woolley said: ‘This was an upsetting incident for all concerned and our best wishes go to the victim, his family and those who witnessed the incident.

‘Residents will experience an increased police presence in the Gillingham area and I would like to reassure everyone that officers responded quickly to take a man into custody and we do not currently believe anyone else was involved.

‘The motivation for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of our ongoing inquiries, although we are exploring the possibility that it may be mental health-related.

‘We are also investigating any possible links between the location and the suspect.

‘There is no further information at this time to suggest there are any wider threats to the local community including members of the armed forces.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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