Knives seized as police given more time to quiz soldier attack suspect

The authorities have been given additional time to question the individual accused of carrying out a brutal knife assault on a soldier in close proximity to an Army Barracks in Kent.

Police have stated that the assault on the officer in uniform is not believed to be connected to terrorism. The person suspected of carrying out the attack may be dealing with mental health issues.

Authorities stated that they received a call at approximately 5:55pm on Tuesday regarding a severe attack in Sally Port Gardens, located in Gillingham.

The person who was hurt is a soldier in their 40s wearing a uniform. They were hurt in a way that looks like someone used a knife on them and were taken to the hospital by helicopter. They are in a bad condition but not getting worse. The people looking into what happened found several knives at the place where it happened.

A 24-year-old male was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to kill someone at 6:20 PM on Mooring Road in Rochester.

Kent Police announced on Wednesday evening that they have been given additional time to keep him in custody.

A spokesperson mentioned that because he has been in custody for over 24 hours, officers have been given more time to investigate the incident further.

Barricades were placed around the areas where the incident occurred and where the arrest took place. Residents reported witnessing a man in handcuffs being taken away by officers, while investigators stayed at a house on the street the following Wednesday. Sniffer dogs were brought in to assist in the investigation. Police mentioned that they confiscated several knives.

The blog post below talks about the beautiful Sally Port Gardens located in Gillingham, Kent.

The leader of the military, General Sir Roly Walker, criticized the stabbing as "terrible and without reason", while Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his surprise and dismay.

Sir Keir started his first Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday by informing MPs: "I'm sure everyone in the House will be surprised to hear about the incident where a soldier was assaulted in Kent."

We are thinking of him, his family, and the military who work to protect us. We hope he heals quickly.

Lauren Edwards, the MP for Rochester and Strood, urged people to refrain from making assumptions about the motives behind the attack and instead focus on showing support for the soldier who was injured and his family.

"It's terrible, it's very alarming to see this happening in such calm streets," she expressed.

Kent Police's Acting Chief Superintendent, Richard Woolley, stated that the recent incident was distressing for everyone involved. He extended their deepest sympathies to the victim, their family, and anyone else who was affected by the event.

There will be more police in the Gillingham area, but I want to let everyone know that the police responded quickly and arrested a man. We don't think anyone else was involved.

We are still trying to figure out why the attack happened and are looking into whether mental health played a role. We are also looking into any connections between the suspect and the location of the incident.

There is no additional information available currently indicating that there are any larger dangers to the community, including the armed forces.

An observer informed The Sun that a man carrying two kitchen knives jumped off a moped and launched a frenzied attack on the soldier.

The person who saw what happened explained that the person who was hurt was able to walk away unsteadily but was followed and caught by the attacker. The attacker was described as wearing a ski mask and a jacket with the NASA logo on it, and they proceeded to harm the victim again.

One person who saw the incident reported that the soldier was dressed in a military outfit, and was heading home with his partner. The partner attempted to stop the attacker, but was unsuccessful.

"The assailant was approaching him and repeatedly stabbed him around 12 times," a witness informed KentOnline.

There were around seven people who saw it happen. The soldier was wearing his military uniform.

"His spouse attempted to remove the aggressor. However, the aggressor had no interest in her; he solely had eyes for the soldier."

No one else nearby was at risk. He only had his sights set on the soldier he assaulted.

The Army chose not to provide a statement regarding the reports of the soldier in uniform.

As reported by The Sun, bystanders heard a terrifying scream during the attack.

An onlooker apparently witnessed the perpetrator slide his finger along the blade of the knife and then taste it in view of stunned spectators.

According to the person who quickly helped him, the soldier had injuries all over his body.

The place where the police said the incident happened is close to Brompton Barracks, which is the main base of the British Army's 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.

A spokesperson for the military expressed deep regret in confirming that a soldier was seriously injured in an assault.

"We are thinking of the soldier and their family during this challenging time. We kindly ask that their privacy be honored," they stated.

We will keep collaborating with Kent Police to figure out what happened and assist with the investigation.

If you saw the incident or have any useful information, please get in touch with the Kent Police.

Law enforcement officials were present at the location on Tuesday night.

There is a restricted area at the location with police staying there to keep investigating.

General Sir Roly Walker, the head of the Army, described the assault as "appalling and unwarranted."

In a recent blog post, he expressed his profound sorrow for the brutal and unwarranted assault on an officer that occurred yesterday. He emphasized that our military personnel make remarkable sacrifices to protect our country and should be treated with the utmost respect.

I want to send my thoughts and well wishes to him and his family during this difficult time. The chain of command is providing them with all the support they need as they heal from this terrible incident.

The Prime Minister had expressed his strong disgust and disbelief at the incident.

We are thinking of the soldier, his family, and everyone in our military community who work to protect us. In a message on X, he said he hopes the soldier gets better soon.

The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Defence Secretary John Healey also criticized the stabbing.