British counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation into the killing on Friday of lawmaker David Amess, police said, as they probe the second death of a UK politician while meeting voters since 2016.
The pro-Brexit Conservative MP, 69, a father-of-five first elected to parliament in 1983, was stabbed to death inside a church while holding a fortnightly consultation with his local constituents in the small town of Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, east of London.
Local police arrested a 25-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of murder and recovered a knife.
Multiple UK media outlets, citing sources, reported that the man is believed to be a British national with Somali heritage.
“The investigation is in its very early stages and is being led by officers from the specialist counter-terrorism command,” Ben-Julian Harrington, Essex police’s chief constable, told reporters.
“We made it clear at the time of the incident that we did not believe there was any immediate further threat to anyone else in the area,” Harrington added.
“It will be for investigators to determine whether or not this is a terrorist incident,” he said, noting they would keep “an open mind”.
– ‘Much-loved’ –
The killing has sent shockwaves around Britain.
Flags were lowered to half-mast in Westminster as tributes poured in from across the political spectrum for Amess, whose death came just over five years after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right extremist.
In a book last year called “Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster”, Amess noted that Cox’s death had prompted new security guidance to lawmakers which threatened to limit their access to constituents.
“This sort of thing just was not supposed to happen in the UK,” he wrote about Cox’s killing.
“These increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Amess was “a much-loved friend and colleague” and “a fine public servant”.
“The reason I think people are so shocked and saddened is above all he was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics.”
Dozens of local community members honoured their slain elected representative in a impromptu and highly poignant mass held at another Leigh-on-Sea church near the crime scene on Friday evening.
“He died doing the thing he loved — meeting his constituents,” said Jeff Woolnough, a priest who led the liturgy.
– ‘Attack on democracy’ –
All Britain’s living former prime ministers also paid tribute to Amess, including Theresa May, who called it “a tragic day for our democracy”.
Prince William and his wife Kate said the couple were “shocked and saddened” and noted Amess had “dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community”.
Condolences also came from around the world, including from the United States, Canada and Spain.
“An attack on elected officials is an attack on democracy,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted.
Britain’s House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said Amess had “built a reputation for kindness and generosity” during his long parliamentary career.
“In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine MPs’ security and any measures to be taken, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family, friends and colleagues,” Hoyle added.
Interior minister Priti Patel’s spokesman said she had chaired a meeting of police, security and intelligence agencies and “asked all police forces to review security arrangements for MPs with immediate effect”.
– ‘Cowardly as it gets’ –
Amess was first elected during Margaret Thatcher’s tenure and was known for his advocacy of animal welfare and pro-life issues.
He had advertised Friday’s “surgery” — an open meeting for constituents — at the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
Essex police said officers had responded “within minutes” to reports of the stabbing shortly after 12:05 pm (1105 GMT) and arrived to find he had “suffered multiple injuries”.
“This was a difficult incident, but our officers and paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service worked extremely hard to save Sir David,” Harrington said.
“Tragically he died at the scene.”
In January 2000, Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was wounded and his assistant killed by a man wielding a ceremonial sword at a surgery.
Pro-EU MP Cox was killed in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, while another Labour MP, Stephen Timms, was stabbed multiple times during an event in 2010 but recovered and is still a lawmaker.
Timms said he was “appalled” at this latest attack. Cox’s widower Brendan said it was “as cowardly as it gets”.
“There is no excuse, no justification.”
