British Army soldier is hospitalised after suspected stabbing in Gillingham

Emergency crews were called on Tuesday evening to reports of a serious assault on Sally Port Road, close to Brompton Barracks.

Transcript

00:00This was not the scene residents here in Gillingham were expecting when they woke up this morning.

00:05Police officers, cordoned off streets and forensic investigators.

00:09All here to work out exactly what happened on Tuesday evening when a British Army soldier was repeatedly stabbed.

00:15So we went to attend karate last night and I drove up.

00:20And the only way into that whole estate area is via the road on which the incident happened.

00:26I know we live in Gillingham and a lot of people say Gillingham is not particularly nice,

00:29but it's not that bad an area and it is a bit shocking for it to happen, like on your doorstep as well.

00:34And I do wish that the soldier makes a recovery.

00:37Here's what we know so far. The stabbing happened close to Brompton Barracks.

00:41It's where the British Army's Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment is based.

00:46Then at around 6pm, emergency crews were called to a serious assault in Sallyport Gardens.

00:52Less than half an hour later, an arrest was made on suspicion of attempted murder.

00:57The man arrested was this 24-year-old who was seen riding away from the scene and on this red moped,

01:04later taken into custody in Rochester, where another cordon was set up in Mooring Road.

01:09Today, as investigations have continued, officers have seized a number of knives

01:14as they work towards understanding the motivation for the attack.

01:18It's not believed to be terror-related.

01:21The news has prompted a nationwide response, with the Prime Minister taking to social media

01:26to say he was shocked and appalled before delivering these remarks in his first Prime Minister's Questions.

01:32I know the whole House will be shocked by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.

01:38Our thoughts are with him, his family and our armed forces who serve to keep us safe.

01:45We wish him a swift recovery.

01:48Medway, of course, has such a huge historical tie to the armed forces,

01:52symbolised here in Gillingham by the Chatham Naval Memorial which stands over the Great Lines Park,

01:57just a few hundred metres away from where the incident took place.

02:01My thoughts are with the victim's family and very much the close-knit military community around.

02:06There will be very, very close friends that have served and worked with this soldier

02:11who will be suffering a bit this morning and taking it all in.

02:16It's a very close community because those that serve, quite often you live in each other's pockets, you're 24-7.

02:24It is very much that extended close family.

02:27Officers have warned residents should expect to see an increased police presence over the coming days

02:32as it's clear to see this investigation is far from over.