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| Labour MP Jo Cox in critical condition after being shot and stabbed | Labour MP Jo Cox in critical condition after being shot and stabbed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jo Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, is in a critical condition after being shot and stabbed multiple times in her West Yorkshire constituency. | Jo Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, is in a critical condition after being shot and stabbed multiple times in her West Yorkshire constituency. |
| Armed officers responded to the attack near a library in Birstall on Thursday afternoon, and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area, police confirmed. | Armed officers responded to the attack near a library in Birstall on Thursday afternoon, and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area, police confirmed. |
| They added that the Labour politician had suffered “serious injuries and is in a critical condition”. She has been taken by helicopter to Leeds general infirmary. | They added that the Labour politician had suffered “serious injuries and is in a critical condition”. She has been taken by helicopter to Leeds general infirmary. |
| Police also confirmed a man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby suffered slight injuries in the incident. They are also investigating reports the suspect shouted: “Britain First”, a possible reference to the far-right political party, as he launched the attack. | |
| 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. | |
| 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.“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.“He was shouting ‘Britains 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.” | |
| Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, said the party was “looking into the reports right now”. | |
| “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.” | |
| Other witnesses said the attack was launched after the MP became involved in an altercation involving two men near her weekly advice surgery. A Labour source confirmed Cox was shot and stabbed after she had concluded the drop-in session for constituents at around 1pm. | |
| Related: Labour MP Jo Cox shot - live updates | Related: Labour MP Jo Cox shot - live updates |
| The shopkeeper in a greengrocer opposite Birstall Library, Golden D’Licious, told the Guardian that he believed the attacker had been waiting for the MP outside the library. | The shopkeeper in a greengrocer opposite Birstall Library, Golden D’Licious, told the Guardian that he believed the attacker had been waiting for the MP outside the library. |
| “I was inside the shop and all I heard was a scream and then the gunshot,” he said, without giving his name. “I went out and everyone was dispersing. I couldn’t see because it happened behind a car.” | “I was inside the shop and all I heard was a scream and then the gunshot,” he said, without giving his name. “I went out and everyone was dispersing. I couldn’t see because it happened behind a car.” |
| But witness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, who was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm, said he the MP involved in an altercation between two arguing men. | But witness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, who was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm, said he the MP involved in an altercation between two arguing men. |
| He told PA a man in a baseball cap “suddenly pulled a gun from his bag” and after a brief scuffle with another man the MP became involved. | He told PA a man in a baseball cap “suddenly pulled a gun from his bag” and after a brief scuffle with another man the MP became involved. |
| He added: “He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice and then she fell between two cars and I came and saw her bleeding on the floor.” | He added: “He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice and then she fell between two cars and I came and saw her bleeding on the floor.” |
| Clarke Rothwell, another witness, told BBC News there was a direct altercation between Cox and a man carrying a gun, who “purposefully” targeted her. | Clarke Rothwell, another witness, told BBC News there was a direct altercation between Cox and a man carrying a gun, who “purposefully” targeted her. |
| “He shot this lady and then shot her again,” he said. “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. | “He shot this lady and then shot her again,” he said. “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.” | “Then he ran off down a one-way street. Me and my mate drove round to try and find him.” |
| A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: “At 12.53 today, police were called to a report of an incident on Market Street, Birstall, where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition. | A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: “At 12.53 today, police were called to a report of an incident on Market Street, Birstall, where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition. |
| “A man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby also suffered slight injuries. Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area. There are no further details at present. | “A man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby also suffered slight injuries. Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area. There are no further details at present. |
| “Police presence in the area has been increased as a reassurance to the community.” | “Police presence in the area has been increased as a reassurance to the community.” |
| The Priestley residential care home next door to the library on Market Street was thought to be in lock-down. The firm’s head office said all the residents are safe and accounted for following the shooting. | The Priestley residential care home next door to the library on Market Street was thought to be in lock-down. The firm’s head office said all the residents are safe and accounted for following the shooting. |
| Senior MPs reacted to news of the shooting. David Cameron tweeted: | Senior MPs reacted to news of the shooting. David Cameron tweeted: |
| Jeremy Corbyn said: | Jeremy Corbyn said: |
| Utterly shocked by the news of the attack on Jo Cox. The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time. | Utterly shocked by the news of the attack on Jo Cox. The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time. |
| Boris Johnson, who was out campaigning on the bus in East Anglia, said: “Just heard the absolutely horrific news about the attack on Jo Cox MP. My thoughts are with Jo and her family.” He later confirmed that he was suspending his campaign. | Boris Johnson, who was out campaigning on the bus in East Anglia, said: “Just heard the absolutely horrific news about the attack on Jo Cox MP. My thoughts are with Jo and her family.” He later confirmed that he was suspending his campaign. |
| The 42-year-old MP was elected to parliament in 2015, having previously worked internationally as a head of policy and humanitarian campaigning for Oxfam | The 42-year-old MP was elected to parliament in 2015, having previously worked internationally as a head of policy and humanitarian campaigning for Oxfam |
| She chairs the all-party parliamentary group for Friends of Syria, and was vocal in making the case for military action in the country last autumn, on humanitarian grounds. | She chairs the all-party parliamentary group for Friends of Syria, and was vocal in making the case for military action in the country last autumn, on humanitarian grounds. |
| Her husband is former Labour advisor Brendan Cox, who stepped down as a senior executive of the charity Save the Children last year. | Her husband is former Labour advisor Brendan Cox, who stepped down as a senior executive of the charity Save the Children last year. |
| Cox’s fellow Labour MP John Mann described her as, “one of the real stars of the new intake”, and said her colleagues were, “absolutely stunned” by the reports of an attack. | Cox’s fellow Labour MP John Mann described her as, “one of the real stars of the new intake”, and said her colleagues were, “absolutely stunned” by the reports of an attack. |
| More details soon... | More details soon... |
| Have you been affected by the events in Birstall? If you’d like to share eyewitness accounts or news tips direct with our journalists, please fill in the form below. | Have you been affected by the events in Birstall? If you’d like to share eyewitness accounts or news tips direct with our journalists, please fill in the form below. |