An off-duty soldier sustained a ‘small cut’ in an ‘altercation’ near a Wiltshire army barracks on Friday (6 June) – but no knife was seen, police say.
Posts on social media, including one made by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, suggested that the soldier was ‘attacked with a Stanley blade’ outside a barracks in Tidworth.
However, Wiltshire Police has confirmed in an updated statement on the incident that no knife was seen and it’s unclear what caused the minor injury to the man’s face.
The force also said that it happened in Great Perham Copse, in nearby village Perham Down, not directly outside a barracks – which is around two miles away.
The victim, a man aged in his 20s, is a serving soldier but he was not in uniform when he was attacked. The incident is being treated as an attempted dog-napping.
A spokesperson said: “We are continuing to investigate and appeal for witnesses to an incident near Perham Down on Friday (06/06) afternoon, in which an unknown suspect has attempted to steal a dog and assaulted the dog’s owner in an altercation.
“The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a minor injury to his face which didn’t require hospital treatment. No knife was seen during the incident.
“The suspect is described as wearing a black and red motorcycle helmet, black clothing including a hooded top with drawstrings.
“We are appealing for anyone who saw a person matching this description, or for anyone who was at Great Perham Copse between 3pm and 4pm on Friday, to get in touch on 101 quoting reference 54250068863.”
