Counter-terrorism police in the United Kingdom have announced they are taking over the investigation into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a British politician and Catholic convert killed last week. Source: Crux.
Police initially downplayed suggestions the murder of the prominent 78-year-old pro-life Catholic figure had political or terror motives.
Last Friday it was announced that Ms Widdecombe, 78, had died and later that day the Devon and Cornwall police said that they had opened a murder investigation. She was found dead on Thursday morning having sustained serious injuries.
On Saturday, a 28-year-old man described as “white British” from Rotherham, south Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder. That same man has been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, and he continues to be questioned by police investigators.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East announced that new information had “come to light during what has been a dynamic and complex investigation.”
“Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall police, we now have new information and evidence that means counter-terrorism policing is now leading the investigation,” Laurence Taylor, head of national counter-terrorism policing, said.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police,” he added.
On Monday, the British home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, confirmed that the suspect was not known to Prevent, the UK’s anti-terror scheme.
The case has provoked much debate about the safety of MPs, and Ms Mahmood said she offered to arrange a meeting between Nigel Farage – the leader of populist right-wing group Reform UK of which Widdecombe was a spokesperson – and the head of the independent Home Office body that manages the security of those in public life.
Ms Widdecombe is the third politician to be killed in the UK in recent years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative MP David Amess, also a Catholic, in 2021.
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Terror now suspected in murder of British Catholic politician (By Fionn Shiner, Crux)
