The British police counter-terrorism unit announced on Tuesday that the killing of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe was a targeted attack. A 28-year-old man has been detained as a terrorism suspect in an investigation that has shaken the United Kingdom.
Widdecombe’s body was found on Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, after relatives noticed she had missed a scheduled television interview the day before. The 78-year-old former politician had suffered serious injuries by the time officers arrived at the property, prompting a homicide investigation.
The first arrest took place on Saturday in South Yorkshire, more than 300 kilometers north of the scene of the crime. The suspect, described as a white British man, was initially detained on suspicion of murder. As the investigation progressed and new evidence emerged, police also linked him to terrorism-related offences, prompting the involvement of the counter-terrorism unit.
Authorities confirmed that Widdecombe was the victim of a deliberate attack, but they have not yet determined the motive or disclosed the weapon used. Laurence Taylor, head of the counter-terrorism unit, said investigators are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry and that the case remains open. Detectives are considering the possibility that the suspect may have planned attacks on other members of Reform UK, the anti-immigration party Widdecombe belonged to and for which she served as a spokesperson.
With a political career spanning more than two decades in the House of Commons, Ann Widdecombe was a prominent figure within the Conservative Party, serving as prisons minister in John Major’s cabinet. After leaving the Conservatives, she joined the Brexit Party and was elected to the European Parliament before becoming a leading figure in Reform UK.
Her support for Brexit and her participation in social debates, where she defended conservative positions, kept her at the center of British political discussion for years. Her public profile was further increased by appearances on television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
The crime prompted widespread shock among political figures and the public, who recalled recent violent attacks on public officials. The murders of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative MP David Amess in 2021 were also treated as targeted, ideologically motivated attacks and led to strengthened security measures for officials and legislators across the country.
Despite official secrecy, police said the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death remains active and that any significant developments will be announced when conclusive evidence emerges. The suspect’s identity has not been released because no formal charges had been filed at the time. Investigators are examining whether the killing was politically motivated and whether other Reform UK figures could be at risk.
(With information from AFP and AP)