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Labour MP Jo Cox shot in West Yorkshire - latest updates Labour MP Jo Cox shot in West Yorkshire – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
3.24pm BST 3.57pm BST
15:24 15:57
The BBC has been broadcasting this picture, which is believed to show the moment the suspect was arrested. Terry Flynn-Edwards, who runs the Divine hair studio, opposite the scene of the attack, said a man from the dry cleaners had tried to stop the attack.
Believed to be moment of arrest of man involved in #Birstall incident https://t.co/7p3KQh5vYl pic.twitter.com/VYDyopyTzi She said: “She walked out of the library with her PA and he was waiting for her. He stabbed her first and this guy tried to stop him and then he shot her.”
3.16pm BST 3.52pm BST
15:16 15:52
Dozens and dozens of MPs, from all parties, have been using Twitter to express their shock at what happened to Jo Cox and to offer their prayers and best wishes. Here are some of their tweets. Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said the party was “looking into the reports right now”.
Terribly concerned to hear about attack on our wonderful friend Jo Cox. Love and support to her & family. “We were extremely shocked to see these reports and we are keen to confirm them, because of course at the moment it is hearsay,” she said. “This has just been bought to our attention. This is absolutely not the kind of behaviour we would condone.”
Praying for our wonderful colleague and friend Jo Cox. 3.50pm BST
Utterly, utterly horrific to see reports about @Jo_Cox1. My thoughts and prayers are with her, her family & staff 15:50
Jo Cox, her staff and her family are in the thoughts of all colleagues and all parties here at Westminster, very, very sad news. 3.46pm BST
Totally shocked to hear of the brutal attack on my friend and colleague Jo Cox MP for Batley and Spen. Praying for her speedy recovery. 15:46
Absolutely shocked & appalled by attack on Jo Cox. Thoughts & prayers with Jo, her family and friends Police investigating reports suspect shouted 'Britain First'
Appalling news about attack on Labour MP @Jo_Cox1. Best wishes to her and friends from colleagues in @theSNP https://t.co/iRg0xoGeJB Police are also investigating reports the suspect shouted “Britain First”, a possible reference to the far-right political party, as he launched the attack, Vikram Dodd, Nazia Paveen and Rob Booth report.
Profoundly saddened to hear of the attack on colleague Jo Cox I really hope she recovers speedily Attack on one is an attack on all! Graeme Howard, 38, who lives in nearby Bond Street, told the Guardian he heard the man shout “Britain First” before the shooting and during the arrest.
Honestly @Jo_Cox1 is the most passionate fighter for justice at home and abroad I know. I hope and pray she's ok Police were understood to be talking to at least one witness who claimed to have heard the attacker shout words about the right-wing group, and the motivation for the incident will form part of their inquiry
All thoughts and prayers are with the wonderful @Jo_Cox1, one of the kindest and most generous people I know. “I heard the shot and I ran outside and saw some ladies from the cafe running out with towels,” he said. “There was loads of screaming and shouting and the police officers showed up.
Important not to jump to conclusions - just so very sad for Jo Cox; we all love her so much. Praying for her recovery and for Brendan. “He was shouting Britain First when he was doing it and being arrested. He was pinned down by two police officers and she was taken away in an ambulance.”
Shocking news about @Jo_Cox1 Desperately hoping she pulls through
Thoughts, prayers, love and strength to wonderful, brilliant, dear Jo Cox MP and her husband and children.
Just praying for news that Jo Cox is OK. That is all.
Just heard the terrible news of the attack on @Jo_Cox1 MP in her constituency surgery. Thoughts and prayers with her and her family.
Just been told by a journalist of shooting of Jo Cox MP. After recent incident at my office well aware of threat we face. Praying for her
Horiffic news that Jo Cox MP has been attacked. My thoughts and prayers are with Jo and her family.
Horrific news about my colleague the excellent Jo Cox; a superb MP ad comrade. Thoughts are with her & her family
Shocked to hear news about my brilliant colleague Jo Cox. My thoughts and prayers are with Jo and her family.
3.06pm BST
15:06
Eyewitness describes shooting
Lisa O'Carroll
Eye witness Clarke Rothwell told BBC News said there was an altercation between a man carrying a gun and Cox.
He purposefully targeted her, said Rothwell who runs the cafe next to the library where the incident took place.
He shot this lady and then shot her again.
He lent down. Someone was wrestling with him and he was wielding a knife and lunging at her. Three times she was shot.
People were trying to help her.
Then he ran off down a one-way street. Me and my mate drove round to try and find him.
3.03pm BST
15:03
The Labour MP John Mann told BBC that Jo Cox is an “absolutely outstanding” MP and that he was “totally shaken” by the attack.
She is one of the real stars of the new intake, not just on the Labour side but on all sides. She is hard working, eloquent, everyone likes her, she’s one of the real stars of the future.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.10pm BST at 3.48pm BST
3.02pm BST 3.43pm BST
15:02 15:43
Britain Stronger in Europe have also suspended campaigning for the day. And this is from Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission.
3.01pm BST Deeply shocked by news of terrible attack against MP Jo Cox. Thoughts and prayers with her husband and children.
15:01 3.37pm BST
Here is more from the Press Association from Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, who was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside. 15:37
Abdallah said the weapon looked handmade and that the man who had been wrestling with the assailant continued to do so even after he saw the gun. This is from Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury.
He said: “The man stepped back with the gun and fired it and then he fired a second shot, as he was firing he was looking down at the ground.” Deeply shocked to hear about the attack on Jo Cox. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers of all here are with Jo and her family and friends.
The whole incident lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, Mr Abdallah said and another bystander told him she had also been stabbed. 3.36pm BST
He added: “He was kicking her and he was pulling her by her hair. A very courageous man from the dry cleaners tried to restrain him and he couldn’t stop him because all of a sudden he pulled a gun. 15:36
“She was a standing still target for him when he shot her.” This is from Gordon Brown.
2.56pm BST Hoping, praying and thinking of Jo, Brendan and the children. GB
14:56 3.34pm BST
This is from the former Labour leader Ed Miliband. 15:34
Absolutely horrific and shocking news about Jo Cox. All of my thoughts with her and Brendan. This is from the Press Association.
Updated Birstall Primary Academy, which is a few streets away from where the shooting took place, said police had advised it to remain on lock down, adding that staff and children are safe.
at 3.00pm BST Norristhorpe Junior & Infant School, in the nearby village of Liversedge, said it was keeping children in school until they are collected by an adult, on the advice of Kirklees Council.
2.55pm BST 3.32pm BST
14:55 15:32
This is from Mark Goldring, chief executive at Oxfam, where Jo Cox was head of policy before becoming an MP. David Cameron has cancelled his trip to Gibraltar in the light of the attack on Jo Cox.
Oxfam is deeply shocked to hear the news. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Jo and her family at this difficult time. It's right that all campaigning has been stopped after the terrible attack on Jo Cox. I won't go ahead with tonight's rally in Gibraltar.
2.52pm BST 3.31pm BST
14:52 15:31
Vote Leave have suspended their campaigning today. This is from Boris Johnson, who has been on the Vote Leave battlebus. This is from the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.
Just heard the absolutely horrific news about the attack on Jo Cox MP. My thoughts are with Jo and her family Thoughts with Jo Cox and her family after a shocking attack. Air ambulance & staff at Leeds General Infirmary are doing everything possible.
2.50pm BST 3.29pm BST
14:50 15:29
This is the scene of the shooting. The Press Association has filed this profile of Jo Cox.
In Parliament for little over a year, Jo Cox has already carved out a reputation as a plain speaker and solid operator.
Relatively young by political standards, Cox is due to celebrate her 42nd birthday next Wednesday, and has been spoken of as a future minister.
Cox is a Remain supporter in the referendum and both official campaigns have suspended their operations as a mark of respect following the attack on her.
The MP for Batley and Spen, who is married with two children, graduated from Cambridge University in 1995 and went on to be head of policy for Oxfam, and work as an adviser for former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown’s wife, Sarah, and Baroness Kinnock.
Cox has been a vocal advocate for the victims of the Syrian civil war and is chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of Syria group.
The MP abstained in last autumn’s contentious vote on allowing British military action in Syria, insisting a more wide-ranging attempt at a solution to the conflict was needed.
Chair of the Labour Women’s Network, Cox nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership contest last year, but voted for Blairite candidate Liz Kendall in the end.
Cox later said she regretted helping Corbyn get on the ballot paper, and pulled no punches after Labour’s poor performance in last month’s local and Scottish elections.
As the disappointing results rolled-in, Cox told the BBC: “Jeremy needs to personally recognise that this isn’t good enough.
“He needs to take responsibility, he needs to set out a route map to power in 2020, and let’s rally first and foremost around the EU referendum.
“We need to look very hard at what’s gone wrong in the last eight months and put it right.”
Asked if she expected a leadership challenge, Cox said: “Nobody is talking about that now and I don’t think it is the right course of action, but the clock is ticking.”
Cox was also an advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and to anti-slavery campaign group The Freedom Fund before entering parliament.
Despite growing up in the area, Tories attempted to paint Ms Cox as a candidate “parachuted” into Batley and Spen during the 2015 contest because she and her family’s London home was a converted barge moored near Tower Bridge.
But Labour insisted the Tories suffered from “candidate envy” as Cox was registered to vote in the constituency and would divide her time between West Yorkshire and the capital if elected.
Cox secured a majority of 6,057 in the general election, and fellow Labour MP John Mann remarked: “She is one of the stars of the new intake.”