UK police say ex-MP’s murder was a targeted attack
Former government minister Ann Widdecombe, who was found murdered in her home last week, was clearly targeted, British counter-terrorism police said, adding that officers were still working to establish the motive.
“It is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation behind this attack,” Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Britain’s counter-terrorism police, told reporters on Tuesday.
Taylor declined to comment on the attacker’s motive, saying: “This is a complex investigation. It would be wrong for me at this stage to try to attribute (to the attacker) an ideology or what that motivation might be.”
Local police arrested a white British man on suspicion of murder late on Saturday. Counter-terrorism officers, who took over the investigation on Monday, later re-arrested him on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating terrorist acts.
Taylor said the terrorism investigation was being carried out in parallel with the investigation into Widdecombe’s murder.
Widdecombe, 78, a leading member of Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK, was found dead with what police described as “serious injuries” at his home in south-west England last Thursday. He withdrew from parliament in 2010.
The case has further raised concerns about the safety of politicians in the country, following the murders of two sitting British MPs in the last decade.
Taylor was asked if the suspect had targeted other Reform politicians but did not answer directly.
“Obviously, part of our responsibility when investigating these types of crimes is to secure ourselves, and therefore the public and others, against any existing threats,” Taylor said.
“This will create a line of investigation to make sure that we take all appropriate measures to mitigate any threat should it become apparent. I’m not saying there is or isn’t there… but of course it will be a line of investigation.”
