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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 she was shot and stabbed during an attack in her constituency. | An MP is in a critical condition after she was shot and stabbed during an attack in her constituency. |
Eyewitnesses said Jo Cox, 41, 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. The MP holds a weekly advice surgery nearby. | A 52-year-old man was arrested near Market Street, Birstall, West Yorkshire Police said. The MP holds a weekly advice surgery nearby. |
Ms Cox's assistant confirmed she had been attacked. | Ms Cox's assistant confirmed she had been attacked. |
Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
The MP was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary, where armed police are stationed outside. | |
'People screaming' | '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". | 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. | "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. | "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". | "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. | Eyewitness Hithem Ben Abdallah, said the 41-year-old mother of two was left lying and bleeding on the pavement after the incident. |
'Handmade weapon' | |
Mr Abdallah, 56, was in a cafe next door to the library shortly after 13:00 BST when he heard screaming and went outside. | 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. | 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 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. | "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. | 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. |
David Cameron also tweeted to express his concern. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jo and her family," he wrote. | |
Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said he had known Jo Cox since before she became an MP | 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." | Mr Hamilton said: "And I'm just completely devastated, I know Birstall reasonably well, and I think we're all totally shocked." |
It has been announced the Vote Leave and Remain have suspended campaigning in the EU referendum in light of the attack. | |
Ms Cox, who was born in Batley, was elected in 2015. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |