Police have yet to indicate a motive in the attack, but they are not thought to be treating it as terror-related.

Suspect Anthony Esan is accused of attacking Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton in Gillingham, in southeast England on Tuesday.

Teeton, who is in his 40s, was in hospital and his condition "is currently described as serious but stable", according to police.

Prosecutors told the court that the suspect was seen "running up behind" the army officer before he "pulled the soldier to the ground", stabbed him "repeatedly" and drove away on a moped.

Two knives were dropped at the scene and a further three were found stored on the bike, the prosecutor added.

Esan was remanded in custody until a further hearing on August 22.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked and appalled" by the incident.

Parallels were initially drawn to the 2013 murder of British soldier Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death by two Islamist extremists on a southeast London street.

The force had said it was "exploring the possibility that it may be mental health related".

Officers arrested Esan in nearby Rochester within half an hour of being called to the scene of the attack, near the British Army's Brompton Barracks about 40 miles (65 kilometres) southeast of London.