From 39m agoWiddecombe killed in 'targeted attack', but officers still trying to establish motive, police sayCounter-terrorism police said this afternoon that Ann Widdecombe, who was found murdered at her home last week, was clearly targeted. They said officers were still working to establish the motive.At a briefing, assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Britain’s counter-terrorism policing, told reporters:
double quotation markIt is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation that sits behind that attack.
I don’t want to comment further on that motivation or preparation at this stage of our inquiries.
Local police arrested a white British man late on Saturday on suspicion of her murder. Counter-terrorism officers, who took over the investigation on Monday, have since rearrested him on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Reuters reports.Widdecombe, 78, who was a prominent member of Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK, was found dead at her home in rural southwest England last Thursday with what police described as “serious injuries”. She stood down from parliament in 2010.Key events17m agoKeir Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive France’s Légion d’honneur32m agoWiddecombe murder suspect can now be held for questioning for up to 7 days under Terrorism Act, police say39m agoWiddecombe killed in 'targeted attack', but officers still trying to establish motive, police say1h agoCooper says she would like to see 'stronger action' against Israel in relation to abuses in Gaza2h agoWhat happens next to representation of people bill?2h agoTories deny purge as Lord Barwell hits back after losing party whip2h agoCharity Commission committed contempt of parliament by trying to block critical report, inquiry finds3h agoJohnson government wasted £10bn on PPE, Covid inquiry finds4h agoCampbell denies misleading MPs when he claimed he did not know Tories planning vote on delaying recess4h agoCommons leader Alan Campbell accuses Tories of preferring 'weird political game' to debating crisis in Middle East4h agoTories accuse Burnham of 'running scared of scrutiny', claiming he blocked vote on delaying recess until he has become PM5h agoGreen candidate for Greater Manchester mayor criticises Burnham for voting for immigration bill6h agoBurnham says Hillsborough law being debated today can change UK by shifting power and dismantling unaccountability culture6h agoMPs set to pass Hillsborough law bill today after government drops opt-out for spies6h agoReeves to say UK has 'beaten the odds' during last 2 years, in probable last big speech as chancellor6h agoEd Davey urges Burnham to 'be bold, be brave' and introduce PR now7h agoStarmer attends Bastille Day parade in Paris, after coalition of willing allies pay lavish tribute to him7h agoRobert Jenrick accuses Labour of 'playing politics' with safety of Reform UK politicians like Nigel FarageKeir Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive France’s Légion d’honneurKeir Starmer has become the first UK prime minister to be presented with the Légion d’honneur by a French president, in recognition of his work with France on the security of Europe, Pippa Crerar reports.Pippa says:
