Counterterror police have said the killing of former British MP Ann Widdecombe was a “targeted attack” as investigators were granted another seven days to question the main suspect.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the UK’s head of counterterrorism policing, said investigators were still trying to establish the extent of any planning and the motive behind the attack, which he described as “complex”.
A 28-year-old man, arrested on Saturday on suspicion of Widdecombe’s murder, remains in custody after being re-arrested under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police said a court had authorised his detention for up to seven more days while officers pursue multiple lines of inquiry, including digital forensic examinations.
Taylor said officers had carried out extensive searches at an address in Rotherham and urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation continues.
Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister who later joined the Brexit Party before moving to Reform UK, was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, at around 11:40 a.m. on July 9 after suffering serious injuries. Police believe she was killed about 24 hours earlier.
The investigation was formally escalated to a counterterrorism inquiry on Monday after detectives concluded the killing may have been politically motivated. Taylor said the attack was “clearly” targeted but stressed that investigators had not yet established the suspect’s motivation.
