Ann Widdecombe suspect | The Independent
A suspect in the murder investigation of Ann Widdecombe has been re-arrested following a four-day manhunt after her body was found at her home last week.
Counter-terrorism police are now investigating his death after saying on Monday that “new information and evidence has emerged”.
Miss Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and later Reform UK spokeswoman, was found dead at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, at around 11.40am on Thursday after suffering serious injuries.
Devon and Cornwall Police previously said the senior politician was believed to have been attacked at around 12.30am on Wednesday.
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Following the suspect’s arrest by Devon and Cornwall Police, the same man was re-arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences.
Police appealed against “online and public speculation” about the circumstances surrounding the 78-year-old’s death.
Miss Widdecombe, who was first elected as a Conservative MP for Kent in 1987, served as a Brexit Party MP and later as a spokesperson for Reform UK during her long political career.
He initially retired from politics at the 2010 general election and returned nine years later in 2019 as a candidate for the Brexit party in the European parliament.
In the intervening years, he also rose to fame outside of politics after appearing in reality shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. He has also appeared in many pantomime productions and the ITV series ‘Ann Widdecombe Versus’.
Here’s everything we know so far about the suspect in the murder:
What do we know about the suspect?
The suspect is a 28-year-old white British man with links to a property in Rotheram, South Yorkshire, more than 200 miles from Ms Widdecombe’s home.
It is unknown what the suspect’s relationship is to the property. It is located on Byrley Road, a largely residential street in the Kimberworth Park area of the town.
CCTV footage reveals a man put a ‘wooden stick’ into the car outside the house before driving off on the morning he was believed to have been attacked.
Assistant chief constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police said on Sunday that a significant police presence and cordon would remain in the area “for the next few days”.
He added: “The local community can also expect an increased police presence to provide reassurance in the coming weeks but I can assure you that we do not have any information to suggest there is a wider threat to the public.”
A police spokesman said at the time that police were not looking for any other suspects.
What was the reason?
The suspect was re-arrested by the Southeast Counter-Terrorism Police on Monday on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating terrorist acts.
Laurence Taylor, Chief Executive of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues at Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence which means Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of investigation to determine the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is to move this investigation forward quickly with all the means at our disposal. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.”
“We thank local communities, the public and the media for their ongoing support and patience and ask that they continue to support us through the next phase of the investigation.”
A significant development in the case comes as Devon and Cornwall Police said the previous day that there was “no information” to suggest that Ms Widdecombe’s death was a “terrorism-related incident” or “politically motivated”.
Mr Longman said on Sunday: “We are aware of online and public speculation, particularly regarding motive.
“Once again, I urge people not to share or engage in this speculation – it serves no purpose, does not assist our investigation and is particularly distressing for Ms Widdecombe’s family and friends.”
