A serviceman is fighting for his life after being brutally attacked near an Army barracks in Gillingham, Kent. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man on charges of attempted murder.

Defence Secretary John Healey took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice his alarm over the incident: “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 attack took place around 5:55 PM in Sally Port Gardens, a short distance from Brompton Barracks, home to the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment. The victim, a man in his 40s, was reportedly in full uniform when he sustained severe injuries.

A witness described the horrifying moment to The Sun, stating that the assailant had disembarked a moped and then pursued the soldier, stabbing him multiple times. The victim had wounds all over his body,” the witness noted, adding that “blood was everywhere as I tried to apply pressure to his wounds until the police arrived.

The witness also recounted how the attacker refrained from harming the soldier’s wife when she attempted to intervene.

Kent Police responded promptly to the scene, arresting the suspected assailant by 6:20 PM. The area around the incident has been cordoned off as part of the ongoing investigation, with local residents advised to expect an increased police presence.

An Army spokesperson expressed deep regret over the incident: “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.

Kent Police are urging anyone who witnessed the attack or has any relevant information to come forward to aid in their investigation.