A British soldier has been rushed to hospital by air ambulance after a 'serious stabbing' close to an army barracks.

The man, who is in his 40s, was found seriously injured less than 200 metres from Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent, at around 6pm on Tuesday evening.

A horrified witness said the attacker, hidden by a ski mask and in a NASA bomber jacket, leapt off a moped and ran towards the uniformed soldier.

The serviceman managed to get away but was chased down and attacked once more by the assailant who was brandishing two kitchen knifes, the onlooker claimed.

It is claimed moments later the knifeman held up one of the bloodied weapons and licked it in front of terrified locals who had rushed out of their homes to help the serviceman.

It brings back horrific memories of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby who was hacked to death and his body was dragged into the road in an Islamic terrorist attack. 

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were arrested and later found guilty of his murder. Police have not yet ruled out terror as a motive for yesterday's attack.

A witness claimed: 'Blood was everywhere as I tried to apply pressure to his wounds until the police arrived.

'The guy was looking for a soldier to attack.

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'When the guy's wife came out and started trying to pull the guy off he didn't even try to hurt her. He only had his sights set on hurting a British soldier,' he added to The Sun.

The Mail understands the wounded officer was walking alone from the barracks and was wearing his uniform at the time when the attack took place in broad daylight.

The motive is unknown, but police have confirmed a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Horrified onlookers had been alerted to the attack after hearing screams on Sally Port Gardens, a quiet residential street that is believed to be home to some military families.

Photos of the alleged attacker appear to show him stood next to a red moped while wearing a ski mask and a bomber jacket with the NASA logo on it.

A witness told The Sun that the solder, who is in a serious condition in hospital, received injuries to his face and the rest of his body during the frenzied attack.

Photos posted on social media show a heavy emergency services presence, with police vehicles and officers in forensics gear working behind a cordon.

An air ambulance was seen landing in Great Lines Heritage Park, which lies next to the scene of the incident.

Brompton Barracks is the home of the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment. Many of its soldiers live adjacent to the base in army families accommodation.

Soldiers at the Army base were understood to have been forbidden from leaving until police ensured there was no further threat to personnel.

The attack brings back memories of the horrific murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby who was brutally hacked to death by two Islamic terrorists May 2013.

The father-of-one had been wearing a 'Help for Heroes' hoodie while walking in Woolwich off-duty when he was attacked by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale.

The 25-year-old was first run over by a car at up to 40mph before Adebolajo and Adebowale slashed at him with knifes and a cleaver and attempted to behead him.

The immediate aftermath of the vile attack was caught on camera by bystanders, with Rigby's attackers - both of whom had converted to Islam from Christianity -proudly claiming they were getting revenge for Muslims killed by the British Army.

The pair were subdued by armed police after they attempted to charge at officers with weapons. Adebolajo would later be given a whole-life tariff for the murder while Adebowale would be given a minimum term of 45 years.

In a statement released last night following the incident in Gillingham, the motive of which has not yet been established, an Army spokesperson said: 'We're very sorry to confirm that a soldier has sustained serious injuries in an attack in Chatham, Kent.

'Our thoughts are with the soldier and their family and we request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

'We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any relevant information should contact Kent Police.'

Earlier a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: 'We are aware of an emerging incident in the Chatham area which may have involved a soldier.

'As the circumstances are currently under investigation by Kent Police, we cannot comment further.'

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: 'Kent Police was called at around 5.55pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024 to a report of a serious assault in Sally Port Gardens, Gillingham.

'A man in his 40s suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is currently described as serious.

'Officers attended and at around 6.20pm they arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.

'A cordon is currently in place around the scene of the incident and enquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.

'Residents are advised to expect an ongoing police presence in the area.'

MailOnline has contacted South East Coast Ambulance Service for further information.