U.K. Anti-Terrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into Murder of Longtime Conservative Lawmaker

U.K. anti-terrorism police are questioning a man originally arrested Saturday and then released over the killing of a longtime British politician whose body was found in her rural southwest England home last week. Counter Terrorism Policing South East say the 28-year-old man was taken into custody on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism relating to the murder of former Tory and Reform Party spokeswoman, Ann Widdecombe. Police have not released the suspect’s name because he has not been formally charged.Officers were called to Widdecombe’s home at Haytor, Devon, by the ambulance service late Thursday morning. Police did not release information about her cause of death but said she had sustained serious injuries.A man said to be from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, located 270 miles from Devon, was originally arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder. Police initially said the killing was not believed to be terror related. Officials also said they had no indications the killing was politically motivated. Authorities have not explained why they turned the case over to anti-terrorism investigators other than to release a statement saying “new information and evidence” has come up in a “dynamic and complex” investigation.“We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack,” the head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said.“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us,” Mr. Taylor added.Widdecombe, 78, had been a prominent conservative voice for decades. She served in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010 as a member of the Tory Party and served as under secretary of state for social security in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Major. She also held a Home Office position as head of prisons in the mid-1990s.After leaving Parliament, Widdecombe became a reality television star on “Strictly Come Dancing,” “Celebrity Fit Club,” and “Big Brother.” She later joined the Brexit Party and most recently was a member of Reform UK, making media appearances on the party’s behalf.The Speaker of the House of Commons paid tribute to Widdecombe on Monday. “Whether you agreed with her or not, she was principled, spoke her mind and was true to her beliefs, which were informed by a Christian faith,” Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told lawmakers.Mr. Hoyle noted that Widdecombe was a close friend of Tory lawmaker David Amess, who was murdered in 2021. Widdecombe’s killing has renewed concerns about the safety of politicians.Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, laid a wreath on Saturday at a makeshift memorial near Widdecombe’s home. He called her killing “barbaric.”“People now in public life, especially in politics, the world is very much more dangerous than it’s ever been, whatever the outcome of the motives of the killer,” Mr. Farage told reporters.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would update Parliament on the killing on Monday. “My thoughts today remain with Ann’s family and friends, and all those who loved her,” Ms. Mahmood said in an X post.

U.K. Anti-Terrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into Murder of Longtime Conservative Lawmaker

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