Pictured: Man, 24, charged with attempted murder after soldier stabbed near Army barracks

Alex Barton
Anthony Esan at court
Anthony Esan at court - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a soldier was stabbed multiple times near a barracks in Kent.

Anthony Esan has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of a uniformed Army officer near a barracks in Gillingham just before 6pm on Tuesday, Kent Police said.

Esan has also been charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and will appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court.

Esan was arrested near his home in nearby Rochester about 35 minutes after the knife attack.

The victim of the attack, Lt Col Teeton, was airlifted to hospital after being stabbed around 12 times while in his uniform by a man wearing a ski mask and allegedly armed with two 10-inch knives.

His wife screamed at the attacker to leave her husband alone and then tried to pull him away in an intervention that may have saved his life.

Emergency services on the scene at Sally Port Gardens
Emergency services on the scene at Sally Port Gardens - KMG SWNS

Her piercing screams of “get off him” were captured on nearby doorbell cameras as her husband, believed to be in his 40s, lay blood-soaked on the ground.

Police said they were keeping an “open mind” as to the motive behind the attack that left Lt Col Mark Teeton, one of the most senior officers at Brompton Barracks, home to the Royal School of Military Engineering, fighting for his life

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.”

Forensic officers search near the scene at Sally Port after a soldier in uniform was stabbed on Tuesday
Forensic officers search near the scene at Sally Port after a soldier in uniform was stabbed on Tuesday - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

The spokesman added: “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.”

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