Soldier is 'stabbed while walking his dog in random attack' near British Army base - as police launch probe

Daily Mail​

12 hours ago

A soldier was stabbed while walking his dog near a British Army base.
The 20-year-old soldier was off duty and dressed in plain clothing while walking his pet just two miles from the Swinton Barracks at Perham Down, Wiltshire.
Wielding a knife, the attacker attempted to steal the dog on Friday afternoon but was unsuccessful.
The soldier was left with 'relatively minor' injuries and did not require further treatment.
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: 'At around 3.45pm, we received a report that an unknown suspect had approached a man walking a dog in woodland near Perham Down and attempted to snatch the lead of the dog.
'The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a minor injury to his face during the incident.
'Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing.'
The attack was not related to the victim's role as a soldier and is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
The 20-year-old soldier was off duty and dressed in plain clothing while walking his pet just two miles from the Swinton Barracks on Friday
A source told The Sun: 'The attacker approached him and produced a knife, and demanded that he hand the dog over.
'Obviously he refused. The knifeman made a lunge at him, and he was wounded in the face.
'The attacker wouldn't have known he was in the military, but obviously, with the threats soldiers face, this is still an alarming incident.'
Swinton Barracks houses two Royal Engineer regiments and two Signal regiments.
It is a 320-acre military estate that is regularly used for British Army drills.