Kent stabbing latest: British soldier fights for life after attack near barracks

A woman who lives near Brompton Barracks has described the attack on the army officer as 'gutting'.

Lauren Alsey, 40, said it was 'still light' when the stabbing took place and added she hoped the man was going to be OK.

Another woman who lives near the scene said she heard the victim’s wife ask for medical assistance.

The witness, who lives near Brompton Medical Centre, said she heard a woman say: 'My husband has been stabbed – is there a first aider?'

She said she initially thought the commotion was to do with a traffic incident before she heard a woman described as 'hysterical' screaming: 'No!'

She said she also saw a man driving away on a motorbike.

We are awaiting updates on the condition of the soldier who is in hospital in a serious condition after he was stabbed multiple times near his Army base in Kent.

Here's the latest on the attack this morning:

Stick with us for the latest updates as and when we can bring them to you.

Pictures taken this morning show a police cordon has remained in place after a soldier was stabbed multiple times near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham.

We are awaiting further updates from Kent Police.

A man who lives near to the scene of the soldier attack in Gillingham has told how the attacker was chased off as he 'speeded away' on a motorbike.

Alex Reynolds said he heard screams on Tuesday evening before heading outside to see a man lying on the floor in uniform.

Mr Reynolds said:

The 38-year-old said the man was in a 'cream camouflage' military uniform.

He said others at the scene said they saw the attacker 'speed away' on a motorbike and told of someone trying to chase him in a car.

He added that he spoke to one of the victim’s colleagues who said the man goes for a walk every night at around 6pm.

Mr Reynolds’ Ring doorbell footage captured screams, with someone yelling: 'What the hell are you doing?'

Horrified residents told how they had just sat down for dinner when they heard 'huge screams' outside their homes.

One woman living nearby said she saw the attacker giving a final stab wound to a victim who was on the floor when she got to the window.

She could not see if the person was wearing a military uniform.

It’s very, very scary', she said.

Another witness claimed:

Chief of General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker, has said he is “deeply saddened” by the “horrific” and “unprovoked attack” on an army officer in Gillingham.

In a post on X, he said:

The Home Office is not treating the stabbing of a British soldier in Kent as terror-related, the BBC is reporting.

Officials are said to believe the attack may have been the result of a mental health episode.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also tweeted about the soldier attack and said she is receiving briefings from Kent Police.

Her predecessor and now shadow home secretary James Cleverly has also commented this morning following the attack.

We have yet to hear from Kent Police today but here is the statement the force issued last night after the attack took place.

Investigators have yet to rule out terror as a possible motive.

Here is the statement in full:

The Prime Minister has now commented on the soldier attack as he posted a statement on X.

Brompton Barracks is the home of the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.

Many of its soldiers live adjacent to the base in army families accommodation.

Soldiers at the Army base were understood to have been forbidden from leaving until police ensured there was no further threat to personnel.

In a statement released last night following the incident in Gillingham an Army spokesperson said:

Disturbing details about the attack include claims the knife assailant licked blood from one of his weapons in front of terrified locals who had rushed out of their homes to help the serviceman.

One witness told The Sun:

Photos of the alleged attacker appear to show him stood next to a red moped while wearing a ski mask and a bomber jacket with the NASA logo on it.

Kent Police were called to reports of a serious assault in Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham just before 6pm.

The quiet residential street lies around 200 yards from Brompton Barracks and is believed to be home to some military families.

Brompton Barracks has been home to the Royal Engineers since 1812, and now houses the Royal Engineers Museum.

These pictures were taken from the scene of a stabbing near Brompton Barracks in which a soldier was stabbed multiple times with a knife.

Kent Police have said local residents can expect to see an 'ongoing presence' in the area.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the stabbing of a soldier in Kent on Tuesday night was 'shocking'.

In a statement posted on X this morning he said his thoughts were with the serviceman and his family.

If you're just joining us this morning, we will be providing live updates on an attack of a British Army serviceman near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham last night.

Here's what you need to know:

We will bring you updates as and when we can on this developing story.

The attack on a British soldier who was stabbed multiple times near his barracks in broad daylight lasted around 20 seconds, Matthew Lodge, Marc Nicol and Jon Brady report

Horrified witnesses say the attacker was armed with two kitchen knives and stabbed the man repeatedly - the air filled with a 'blood-curdling scream'. After the assault, the soldier attempted to stagger back to his house despite his injuries.

But the attacker is alleged to have pursued him to carry out a second attack and was only stopped when the soldier's wife intervened.

Read more here:

Hello and welcome to MailOnline's live coverage after a British soldier was stabbed outside an Army base in Kent.

The victim, who is in his 40s, was repeatedly attacked with a knife in broad daylight yesterday as he walked in his uniform around 200 yards from Brompton Barracks in Gillingham.

Witnesses say he was attacked by a man in a ski mask wearing a NASA bomber jacket who arrived on a moped.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you the latest developments on the attack plus all the reaction.