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Jo Cox MP critically injured amid shooting reports Jo Cox MP critically injured amid shooting reports
(35 minutes later)
An MP is in a critical condition after suffering serious injuries in an apparent shooting and stabbing attack in her constituency. An MP is in a critical condition after she was shot and stabbed during an attack in her constituency.
Unconfirmed reports suggest Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed. A man also suffered slight injuries. Eyewitnesses said Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was left bleeding on the floor by her attacker. A man also suffered slight injuries.
A 52-year-old man was arrested near Market Street, Birstall, West Yorkshire Police said. A 52-year-old man was arrested near Market Street, Birstall, West Yorkshire Police said. The MP holds a weekly advice surgery nearby.
The MP was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. Ms Cox's assistant confirmed she had been attacked.
Armed police are outside the hospital. The MP was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary, where armed police are stationed outside.
It is understood the MP was holding a surgery at Birstall Library before the attack. Live updates on this story
An eyewitness said the 41-year-old mother of two was left lying and bleeding on the pavement after the incident. It is understood the MP had held a surgery at Birstall Library before the attack.
Eyewitness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in a cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside. 'People screaming'
Cafe owner Clarke Rothwell, who witnessed the attack, said he heard a "loud popping noise that sounded like a balloon burst - a loud balloon".
"When I looked round there's a man stood there in his 50s with a white baseball cap on and a jacket with a gun, an old fashioned looking gun in his hand," he said.
"He shot this lady once and then he shot her again, he fell to the floor, leant over shot her once more in the face area.
"Somebody tried to grab him, wrestling with him and then he wielded a knife, like a hunting knife, just started lunging at her with a knife half a dozen times. People were screaming and running from the area".
Eyewitness Hithem Ben Abdallah, said the 41-year-old mother of two was left lying and bleeding on the pavement after the incident.
Mr Abdallah, 56, was in a cafe next door to the library shortly after 13:00 BST when he heard screaming and went outside.
"There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag"."There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag".
After a brief scuffle, he said the man stepped back and the MP became involved.After a brief scuffle, he said the man stepped back and the MP became involved.
Mr Abdallah said the weapon had "looked handmade" and a man who had been wrestling with the gunman continued even after seeing the gun.
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."
"He was kicking her as she was lying on the floor", he said.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, tweeted he was "utterly shocked by the news of the attack" and the thoughts of the "whole Labour Party" were with Ms Cox.
Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said he had known Jo Cox since before she became an MP
Mr Hamilton said: "And I'm just completely devastated, I know Birstall reasonably well, and I think we're all totally shocked."
Ms Cox, who was born in Batley, was elected in 2015.
She was educated at Heckmondwike Grammar School and graduated from Cambridge University in 1995.
A former head of policy for Oxfam, she also worked as an advisor to Sarah Brown and Baroness Kinnock.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Did you witness the incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Did you witness the incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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