Terrorism inquiry underway in Widdecombe murder inquiry

The investigation into the murder of former British politician Ann Widdecombe has been taken over by Counter-Terrorism Policing, as authorities now treat the incident as an act of terrorism. Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman, was found dead at her home on Dartmoor on Thursday with serious injuries.

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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.

A 28-year-old man was initially arrested in connection with the murder. However, following the discovery of new information and evidence, counter-terrorism officers rearrested him on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. He is now leading the investigation into her death.

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We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.

Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, stated that they are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for the attack. He emphasized the priority is to progress the investigation quickly using all available capabilities and urged the public to share any relevant information. Taylor thanked local communities, the public, and the media for their ongoing support and patience.

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Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman had previously stated that there was no information to suggest the incident was terrorism-related and that they were not looking for anyone else. Widdecombe, 78, had a notable career in politics, serving as an MP and MEP, and later gained public recognition through television appearances on shows like 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Celebrity Big Brother.' She had been scheduled to appear on television programs shortly before her death.

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At this point, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident and at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder.