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A uniformed soldier stabbed multiple times near an Army barracks remains in a serious condition a week after the attack.
Armed police, forensics and other officers were called to the scene in Sally Port Gardens, Brompton at about 6pm last Tuesday.
The victim Lt Col Mark Teeton was repeatedly stabbed as his wife tried to pull his attacker off in the incident near Brompton Barracks.
A 24-year-old was arrested near his home in Mooring Road, Rochester, about 30 minutes later.
In an update today, a police spokesman said: “There is no change in the victim’s condition, which is still described as serious but stable.”
KentOnline first broke the news a solider had been attacked last Tuesday.
The story attracted national attention, with Keir Starmer saying at his first Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday: “I know the whole house will be shocked by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.
"Our thoughts are with him, his family and our Armed Forces who serve to keep us safe and we wish him a swift recovery."
A witness described to KentOnline exclusively how he saw a man pull up on a moped before the Royal Engineer was attacked.
“There were about seven of us there who witnessed it,” he said.
“The soldier was in uniform.
“He works at the barracks, lives in Sally Port Gardens and was walking home.
“His wife tried to pull the attacker off.”
They say the attacker then rode off on the moped.
Another witness, who lives near the Brompton Medical Centre which is close to the scene, described the officer’s wife asking for medical help.
She heard the woman say: “My husband has been stabbed – is there a first aider?”
Another woman living near the scene says she was sitting down to dinner with her family when they heard a “huge scream”.
An air ambulance landed at the nearby Great Lines Heritage Park at about 6.30pm.
Forensic officers were called and a police helicopter was also seen circling overhead.
Shortly before 6.30pm on Tuesday, police cordoned off part of Mooring Road — about a 10-minute drive from Sally Port Gardens.
A 24-year-old was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
Anthony Esan appeared in court on Thursday flanked by three other uniformed officers who stood in the public gallery while the case was heard.
Esan spoke to confirm his name but queried why he was being asked the questions by the clerk.
District Judge Stephen Leake heard the attempted murder charge was indictable only and as a result, the case was being sent to the crown court to be dealt with.
Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said: “Police received 999 calls to say a male on a moped with a large knife had stabbed a uniformed soldier, the man’s face was partially covered.
“It’s alleged he ran up behind him and the soldier fell to the ground and it’s alleged he was repeatedly stabbed with a large knife, the reports said it was a machete.
“Two knives were left at the scene and the moped was traced to an address in Rochester.”
The prosecutor also told the court how three kitchen knives were found in a box on the back of the moped.
Robert Weston, defending, told District Judge Leake he was not making a bail application as he had not had appropriate consultation with Esan before the hearing.
Esan was remanded in custody and will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on August 22.
Officers say they have been “supported throughout” by counter-terrorism police but revealed they do not believe the incident to be terror-related.