A 24-year-old man, Anthony Esan, has been remanded in custody following his court appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court, charged with the attempted murder of a soldier in Gillingham, Kent. The incident occurred near Brompton Barracks on Tuesday evening, where Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton was seriously injured after being stabbed approximately 12 times by a masked assailant.

Esan, who was arrested near his residence in Rochester about 35 minutes post-incident, remains in custody pending further legal proceedings. The attack has left Lieutenant Colonel Teeton hospitalised in a serious but stable condition.

This case has drawn considerable attention, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker both expressing their shock and concern over the violent assault against a member of the armed forces. The motivations behind the attack are still under investigation, with authorities keeping an open mind, including the consideration of mental health factors.