Kent Police responded swiftly to reports of a brutal axe attack near the Wincheap junction on the A2 road on 14 December 2024. Upon arrival, officers found two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, suffering from serious head injuries. One of the victims had been viciously struck with an axe.
A third man involved in the incident escaped unharmed and assisted paramedics at the scene.
The attackers, travelling in a silver Mercedes, forced the victims, who were in a white Seat, to stop in the live carriageway. Without warning, the assailants launched a savage and premeditated assault between the vehicles.
Police confirmed that all men involved knew each other prior to the attack. The suspects fled the scene immediately after the assault.
Following the attack, Dawood Khan, 28, attempted to flee to Afghanistan the next day but was apprehended after returning to the UK. Esmatullah Paktiawal, 36, appeared at Folkestone’s Napier Barracks hours after the incident with injuries to his head, back, and hand. He claimed to have fallen off a fence but was later hospitalised and arrested in Manchester.
Both men denied charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. However, after a six-week trial at Canterbury Crown Court, jurors found them guilty on 21 November 2024. One week later, on 28 November, each was sentenced to 24 years in prison, totaling 48 years between them.
Detective Inspector Colin McKeen stated: “This was a brutal and premeditated attack that nearly took one man’s life. The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the violence used and the wider criminal activity that was being conducted by these individuals. Kent Police works tirelessly to ensure that violent offenders such as Khan and Paktiawal are held accountable and are unable to escape justice. I welcome the sentence passed by the court and hope it can provide a sense of closure to the victims.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
