Kent soldier stabbing: Former Met Police detective shares ‘hideous links’ to Lee Rigby murder

Former Metropolitans Police detective Peter Bleksley has condemned the attack on a soldier in Kent after he was stabbed in a frenzied attack on Tuesday.

The victim, who is in his 40s, is said to have been in uniform when he was attacked by a man wearing a ski mask, who was also on a moped.

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, and say they are “not treating this as a terrorist incident”.

Defence Secretary John Healey said his “thoughts are with the soldier and his family”, who “deserve privacy at this difficult time”.

Reacting to the attack, former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley said he is “absolutely appalled” by the incident and hoped the victim “makes a full recovery”.

Highlighting a “potential link” to the tragic murder of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013, Bleksley explained: “I think we need to rewind to 2013. Yesterday, a vile, repulsive preacher of hate, Anjem Choudary, was convicted of terrorism offences.

“In 2013, two savages brutally killed soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich. And one of those murderous beasts was a close devotee of Anjem Choudary, no less. I fear that perhaps the attack may be a response to Chaudhry being convicted, by somebody who may well have been brainwashed like the people that killed Lee Rigby.”

Bleksley also stressed that although he has “no evidence yet to prove it”, the connections “seem more than merely coincidental”.

Offering her thoughts on the stabbing, host Anne Diamond condemned the “cowardly and brutal” attack on another soldier, agreeing with Bleksley that there are similarities between the two cases.

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Anne told GB News: “It’s the first thing I thought of too, it was almost like too much coincidence.

“Yet again, a man in uniform, somebody of whom we should be intensely proud of in this country, is attacked by another young man wearing a ski mask. A cowardly, horrible, brutal attack.”

Bleksley responded: “Just like the murder of Lee Rigby, that was cowardly and brutal and close to his barracks in Woolwich. So there are some horrendous, hideous links.

“And now another attempt, it would appear, to murder our courageous members of the armed forces, who I’m sure you and I and many of your viewers and listeners have the utmost respect for.”

Weighing in on the attack, host Eamonn Holmes questioned if members of the armed forces are possibly “making themselves a target” by wearing their uniforms outside their barracks.

Bleksley told GB News: “Quite possibly. I’m sure that the military will now be issuing directions to those who are living in barracks or other well-known military accommodations to take precautions.

“But of course, if this is the actions of a deranged lunatic, the likes of which murdered Lee Rigby, then of course it is extremely difficult for our military to move around in uniform.”

Offering his support to the family of the victim in Kent, Bleksley said his “thoughts are very much with the soldier and all those who love him”, and wished him a “swift recovery”.