London
British counter-terrorism police at the moment are main the investigation into the suspected murder of former UK lawmaker Ann Widdecombe “following new information and evidence,” UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated on Monday.
Police had beforehand stated there was no info to recommend Widdecombe’s murder was an act of terrorism or politically motivated.
“The police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack,” Mahmood stated in an replace, additionally noting that she is going to transient lawmakers within the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
The former lawmaker was discovered useless at her dwelling in Haytor, Devon, in western England on Thursday. Police say they consider Widdecombe died the day earlier than her physique was found. She had “sustained serious injuries,” police stated in an announcement final week.
On Saturday, police arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire, England – tons of of miles away – on suspicion of murder.
“The suspect, who is a white British national, is now in police custody,” stated the statement from Devon and Cornwall Police, which famous that Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police carried out the arrest on their behalf.
Then on Monday, Counter Terrorism Policing stated in an announcement that “new information and evidence has come to light during what has been a dynamic and complex investigation,” prompting them to take the lead. “The man in custody has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism,” the statement added.
Widdecombe, 78, was a former Conservative Member of Parliament, authorities minister and fixture on British tv. In 2019, she was elected to European Parliament as a member of the right-wing Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage. After the UK formally withdrew from the EU, she served because the immigration spokesperson for the Brexit Party’s successor group, Reform UK.
Widdicombe was final seen publicly in a televised interview on TalkTV final Wednesday morning. During that TV look, she vehemently defended Farage, following his decision to resign from parliament and re-run for his seat in parliament.
Farage launched a statement mourning Widdecombe on Friday, saying that she “gave her life to public service.”
Across the political divide, many British politicians supplied condolences. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer final week described her demise as a “significant loss” and stated it was an necessary second to “rise above any political differences.”
NCS’s Max Saltman contributed to this report.
This is a growing story and shall be up to date.