Murder of UK politician Ann Widdecombe was ‘targeted attack’, police say

Counterterrorism police are investigating the murder of prominent British politician Ann Widdecombe as a "targeted attack." Widdecombe, 78, was found dead with serious injuries at her home in Devon last week. Initially, local police arrested a man on suspicion of murder, but counterterrorism officers have since rearrested him on suspicion of "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism."

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of counter terrorism policing, stated that while it is clear the attack was targeted, the motivation and extent of planning are still under investigation. He cautioned against ascribing a specific ideology or motive at this early stage, describing the investigation as "complex."

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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.

Widdecombe was a well-known figure in right-wing politics, serving as immigration and justice spokesperson for Reform UK. Earlier in her career, she was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010 and held government positions. She later gained public recognition as a television personality.

The investigation's shift to counterterrorism policing followed "new information," according to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The suspect was reportedly not known to the government's Prevent counterterrorism program. The incident has amplified concerns about political security in the UK, recalling the murders of MPs Jo Cox in 2016 and David Amess in 2021, both of whom were killed by attackers with extremist links.

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it is a complex investigation