Man charged with attempted murder in UK soldier stabbing

A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of a British soldier earlier this week, UK police said on Thursday.

Detectives investigating the serious assault of a soldier in Gillingham have charged Anthony Esan in court.

This is according to a Thursday statement obtained from the Kent Police website.

It was titled, “Suspect charged with attempted murder of soldier in Gillingham.”

” 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,” it read.

The statement noted that Esan was arrested the same day and is slated to appear in court on Thursday (today).

“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,” it further read.

According to Kent Police, the victim, a man in his forties, is in the hospital and currently described as being in a serious but stable condition.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed that he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident, which took place in Gillingham, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) southeast of London.

Taking to X on Wednesday, he posted, “I am shocked and appalled by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.

“All our thoughts are with the soldier, his family, and our Armed Forces community, who serve to keep all of us safe.

“I wish him a swift recovery.”

Kent Police have yet to indicate any motive in the latest attack, but they are not thought to be treating it as terror-related.

The force had said it was “exploring the possibility that it may be mental health-related.”

PUNCH Online in a May report wrote about the recent stabbing to death of a 14-year-old British-Nigerian in London, Daniel Anjorin, and the challenge posed by the wave of knife-related crimes in the United Kingdom.