LATEST UPDATE: COUNTER TERR0-RISM POLICE SAY ANN WIDDECOMBE WAS KI-LLED IN A ‘TARGETED’ AND ‘BRUT-AL’ ATTACK AS MAJOR INVESTIGATI0N ESCALATES
Counter Terrorism Police have confirmed they believe Ann Widdecombe was killed “in a targeted attack”.
Authorities gave fresh details about the investigation this afternoon, with a senior officer describing the horror as “a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her home”. It has not been declared as a “terrorist incident” as yet but the 28-year-old white British man remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism, as well as on suspicion of murder.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “It 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.”
It comes after emerged today Miss Widdecombe, a former Tory minister, defended Nigel Farage in a radio interview minutes before she died.
The veteran politician, who later served as Reform UK’s Immigration and Justice spokesperson for three years, completed a ten-minute pre-recorded interview with a Christian radio station TWR-UK, via Zoom, last Wednesday. It began at 11.54am and ended at around 12.10pm – just 20 minutes before police believe she was killed.
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Latest police update – in full
Yesterday a police spokesperson said: “The murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is continuing today, with further details provided by Counter Terrorism Policing.
A 28-year-old man arrested in connection with this incident remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, as we well as on suspicion of murder. A warrant of further detention has been granted, which means the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act.
Head of National Counter Terrorism, Laurence Taylor, provided the following update: “The shocking death of Ann Widdecombe has very much dominated the headlines since the news first broke last week.
“This incident has had a deeply distressing impact on Ann Widdecombe’s family, and we are doing all we can to support them, alongside our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police.
“The thoughts of everyone at Counter Terrorism Policing are with them at what is a very challenging time. As we confirmed yesterday, Counter Terrorism Policing South East are now leading the investigation.
“This is due to new information and evidence coming to light following the arrest of a 28-year-old man on Saturday in South Yorkshire. It 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 it.
“Extensive searches have taken place at an address in Rotherham and scenes remain in place as that activity continues.
“This is a complex investigation and there are multiple lines of enquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously including digital forensic examinations. I am very aware of the significant levels of public interest in this case, given that Miss Widdecombe was such a high-profile political and public figure, and familiar to many.
“I do not intend to address every bit of speculation we have seen, but I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public that investigations of this type are complex, and new information can emerge as officers progress their enquiries. We intend to release further information when it’s available and appropriate to do so.
“Please allow us to do our job, thoroughly, and carefully, and think before sharing unverified information. It is important to remember that this is a murder investigation, following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her own home. I want to ensure that our work is conducted sensitively and considers the impact of what has happened.
“I would like to end by reassuring all of those who knew, or knew of, Ann Widdecombe that our excellent teams of investigators are working incredibly hard, with the aim of securing justice for her and her family. If you have any information that you think might help us with this investigation, please contact the police.”
Any relevant information, images or footage can be reported via the Major Incident Public Portal https://mipp.police.uk/operation/50DC26S51-PO1 or to Devon and Cornwall Police on 101.
Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Paige Ingram
Police are ‘considering left-wing motive’
Counter-terrorism police are probing whether the suspect held over Ann Widdecombe’s killing was motivated by left-wing extremism and planning further violence against other high-profile figures.
Detectives confirmed Miss Widdecombe’s death was a “targeted attack”, and said whether the suspect in the alleged murder was targeting Reform UK figures will be a “line of investigation”.
The police investigation is also probing whether left-wing extremism or other political motives were behind the killing, it has been reported.
Read the full story here.
Paige Ingram
Suspected murder ‘not declared terror incident at this stage’, police say
The head of counter terror police shared details into the investigation surrounding Ann Widdecombe’s death.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor called the case a “targeted attack”.
Taylor added that counter terror probe was “running in parallel to the murder investigation” but said the incident “has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage”.
The Assistant Commissioner also said: “I don’t want to go into the details of the extent of that at this stage. There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations.”
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
28-year-old suspect remains under arrest
A 28-year-old white British man remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism, as well as on suspicion of murder, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said earlier this evening.
Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention meaning the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act, he added.
The senior officer continues: “There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations.
“It is important to remember that this is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her home.”
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
WATCH: Counter terror police chief says Widdecombe died in ‘targeted attack’
Ann Widdecombe: Counter-terrorism police share update on investigation
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Widdecombe suspect to be held for up to seven days
The 28-year-old suspect in the Ann Widdecombe investigation will be held by police for longer.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, today revealed that police have been granted powers to question the suspect in Ann Widdecombe’s death for seven days.
A 28-year-old white British man remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism, as well as on suspicion of murder. The suspect was detained at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.
Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention meaning the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act, Assistant Commissioner Taylor added.
He told reporters: “There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations.”
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
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Police investigate social media post ‘celebrating’ Ann Widdecombe’s death
Police are looking into reports of a social media post that apparently celebrated the death of Ann Widdecombe, who was later announced as killed in a “targeted attack”.
The post, allegedly made by a University of Aberdeen employee and posted before the death was treated as possible murder, claimed the former MP’s death was “good news” and that they had hoped it was an “extremely painful death”.
Former MEP Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, last Thursday.
On Tuesday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said the force was looking into the incident.
They added: “We received reports on Saturday, July 11 relating to a post made online. Following further assessment, additional enquiries are being carried out.”
A spokesperson for the university said: “The comments that have been shared are entirely the individual’s own and do not represent the views of the University of Aberdeen.
“We do not condone violence or hateful behaviour in any form. We are cooperating with Police Scotland as they carry out their enquiries and cannot comment further.”
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Counter terrorism police in Ann Widdecombe murder probe investigating if suspect planned other attacks
Counter-terror police are investigating whether the prime suspect in Ann Widdecombe’s killing plotted attacks on other political figures.
The 28-year-old White British man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is still being quizzed tonight on suspicion of murdering the former Cabinet Minister at her home – three days after armed police swooped on his mid-terrace house in Rotherham, South Yorks.
Asked whether the police investigation was looking at whether the suspect was targeting “other Reform politicians”, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor today said: “So clearly, part of our responsibility when investigating offences of this nature is to assure ourselves and therefore the public and others of any extent of threat.
“That will form a line of investigation to ensure that we are putting all appropriate measures in place to mitigate any threat, should it become apparent. I’m not saying there is or there isn’t at this stage. Of course that will be a line of inquiry.”
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday before being re-arrested on Monday accused of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Specialist terror officers had previously been working alongside detectives from Devon and Cornwall Police ’s Major Crime Investigation Team since a murder investigation was launched last week.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Patrick Hill
Andy Burnham ‘prepared to launch serious review into MPs safety’
Andy Burnham said a “serious review” was needed into MPs’ security following the death of Ann Widdecombe.
The incoming prime minister said politics has “darkened” in the last decade since he was last in Westminster and protections may need to be “increased further”.
Asked why he thought frontline politics had become so dangerous, the Makerfield MP told reporters in Parliament: “I notice quite a lot of change in the building behind me 10 years away, no more so than on the question of security.
“Actually, I was quite shocked to see how much security now has to be in place, and even so, it may need to be increased further. Politics has darkened in the last decade, there’s no getting away from that.
“It’s obviously appalling what happened to Ann. I knew Ann over many years in the House, and you know, we would get along – and everybody would get along.
“But it feels as though something has changed. It’s easy to blame social media, but it feels like it’s having some impact in just building that kind of toxicity that’s around the political debate.”
He said the issue could not be solved by “easy, glib answers,” adding: “I do think we need now a serious review of MPs’ security. I certainly am prepared to do that.”
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
SOURCE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ann-widdecombe-murder-police-probe-37427190
