Soldier stabbing suspect, 24, charged after serviceman ’repeatedly knifed’ in front of wife

25 July 2024 , 08:35

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Emergency services on the scene at Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham ( Image: KMG / SWNS)

The soldier was repeatedly stabbed near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham on Tuesday as Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was ’shocked and appalled’ by the attack

A man has been charged after a soldier was stabbed near Brompton Barracks.

Anthony Esan, 24, has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of a uniformed Army officer near a barracks in Gillingham on Tuesday, Kent Police said. He was arrested at his home in Rochester. Esan has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

The unnamed soldier was repeatedly stabbed in a "horrific and unprovoked" attack near Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham, Kent, at 5.55pm on Tuesday evening. He suffered injuries "consistent with stab wounds" and remained in hospital on Wednesday in a serious but stable condition.

Yesterday a police cordon surrounded the scene near Brompton Barracks ( Image: 

KentLive)

Kent Police said: “Detectives investigating the serious assault of a soldier in Gillingham have charged a man with attempted murder. Kent Police was called to Sally Port Gardens at around 5.55pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to a report that the victim, a man in his 40s, had suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds.

“He was taken to a hospital for treatment and his condition is currently described as serious but stable. Anthony Esan, 24, was arrested near his home address in Mooring Road, Rochester, at approximately 6.30pm the same day and has now been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 25 July.”

Brompton Barracks is the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment ( Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Locals rushed to help the serviceman victim, who is in his 40s, after he was attacked in public near his home. The aincident is being investigated by Kent Police but has not been passed to the region’s counter-terrorism squad. 

Yesterday a police cordon surrounded the scene near Brompton Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army’s 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday morning he was "shocked and appalled" by the stabbing, while General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, said the attack on an Army officer in Kent was "horrific and unprovoked".

Sophia Martinez