- Anthony Esan, 24, charged with attempted murder following ‘stabbing’ in Kent
- British Army officer remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition
The lieutenant colonel who was stabbed outside an Army barracks in Kent in broad daylight has been pictured for the first time.
Lt Col Mark Teeton is in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in hospital after he was attacked 200 yards from Brompton Barracks in Gillingham on Tuesday evening.
Lt Col Teeton suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds and was airlifted to hospital after his wife flagged down fellow soldiers and neighbours for help.
Anthony Esan, 24, was arrested near his home address in Mooring Road, Rochester, at approximately 6.30pm the same day.
Esan has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, Kent Police said this morning.
Lt Col Mark Teeton, a course manager for the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment for almost six years
Anthony Esan, 24, has been charged with attempted murder after a soldier was attacked in Gillingham on Tuesday
Police on the scene of an alleged attack on a British Army officer in Gillingham
Police officers behind the cordon in Gillingham, Kent on Wednesday morning
An aerial view of Sally Port Gardens in Gillingham where the attack is said to have occurred
Forensic officers have been at an address in nearby Rochester, where a man was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted murder
Sally Port in Gillingham is a quiet residential street
Brompton Barracks (above) in Gillingham is home to the Royal School of Military Engineering
Esan is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court today.
The attack took place 200 yards from Brompton Barracks, home of the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.
Lt Col Teeton is reported to have joined the Army 24 years ago and has been a course manager at the barracks for almost six years.
Prior to this, an online CV states he has held a number of educational roles within the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.
He also ran 44 miles on the 80th anniversary of D-Day just last month to raise money for mental health support for armed forces veterans – raising almost £3,000.
Witnesses said the victim had been dressed in a ‘cream camouflage’ military uniform at the time he was attacked.
The lieutenant colonel’s wife sought the help of other residents and soldiers from the barracks after the attack. Her cries for help were captured on a Ring doorbell camera belonging to a neighbour.
Brompton was put into lockdown for a short period on Tuesday evening – with soldiers ordered to remain indoors.
An air ambulance was seen landing in Great Lines Heritage Park on Tuesday evening adjacent to the scene.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the incident, wishing the soldier a speedy recovery.
A police officer and a detective on Sally Port in Gillingham, close to the scene of the attack
Police officers stand beside a cordoned off area of fencing at the scene of an alleged stabbing in Gillingham today
He later told PMQs on Wednesday: ‘Our thoughts are with him, his family and our armed forces who serve to keep us safe. We wish him a swift recovery.’
Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak added: ‘Our thoughts are with him and his family, as we wish him a speedy recovery.’
The head of the British Army, Chief of General Staff General Sir Roly Walker, said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the alleged attack.
Sir Roly confirmed the man was an officer in the Army, adding: ‘My thoughts and best wishes are with him and his family. They have the full support of the chain of command as they recover from this horrendous incident.’
An Army spokesperson said following the incident: ‘We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation.’