A 20-year-old British soldier was stabbed while walking his dog near Swinton Barracks at Perham Down, prompting a police investigation into the shocking broad-daylight attack.
The off-duty soldier, who was in plain clothes, was attacked in woodland near Perham Down on Friday afternoon, just two miles from the army base. The assailant, who has not yet been identified, attempted to steal the dog but was unsuccessful.
Police Investigation Underway
In a statement, Wiltshire Police confirmed that the incident was reported at around 3.45pm on Friday, June 7:
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.
The victim’s injuries were described as minor, and he did not require hospital treatment.
Not Terror-Related
Wiltshire Police have made it clear that the attack is not believed to be linked to the victim’s military role, and it is not being treated as a terrorist incident. Enquiries into the attack are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Location & Context
-
Location of incident: Woodland near Perham Down, Wiltshire
-
Proximity: Approx. 2 miles from Swinton Barracks
-
Time of incident: 3:45pm, Friday 7 June
-
Nature of incident: Attempted dog theft and stabbing
-
Injury: Minor facial injury, no hospital treatment needed
-
Victim: Soldier in his 20s, off-duty at time of incident
Witness Appeal
Anyone who may have been in the Perham Down woodland area around the time of the incident or who may have CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage is urged to contact Wiltshire Police.
Members of the public can call 101, quoting incident reference from June 7, or report online via the Wiltshire Police website.
