Counter-terrorism police have confirmed that the murder of former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe was a "targeted attack". The 78-year-old ex-MEP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, last Thursday.
Investigation Led by Counter-Terrorism Police
Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation after new evidence emerged. However, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, stressed that the murder and terror investigations are currently running "in parallel".
"It is clear that this was a targeted attack," Taylor told reporters. "We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack. I wouldn't want to comment on what that motivation was." He added that there had been some preparation and planning, but declined to provide details at this stage.
Suspect Details
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. Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention, allowing them to hold the suspect for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act for questioning.
"There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations," Taylor said. "It is important to remember that this is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her home."
Timeline of Events
Miss Widdecombe's body was discovered at about 11:40 am on Thursday at her remote bungalow. She had sustained serious injuries. Police believe she was attacked on Wednesday at approximately 12:30 pm, shortly before she was due to appear on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show.
ITV News published WhatsApp images suggesting Miss Widdecombe stopped responding to a TV producer's messages around the time police believe the attack occurred.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons on Monday that the suspect was not known to the Government's anti-extremism scheme Prevent.
Public Reaction and Background
Footage shared with media outlets, including the Sun and Sky News, showed a man being arrested and led away from a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday. Miss Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, later becoming an MEP for the Brexit Party and a spokeswoman for Reform UK. She also gained fame after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
