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| Labour MP Jo Cox dies after being shot and stabbed | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed multiple times following a constituency meeting. | |
| Armed officers responded to the attack near a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on Thursday afternoon. A 52-year-old man was arrested in the area, police confirmed. The suspect was named locally as Tommy Mair. | Armed officers responded to the attack near a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on Thursday afternoon. A 52-year-old man was arrested in the area, police confirmed. The suspect was named locally as Tommy Mair. |
| Police added that Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, had suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at 1.48pm on Thursday by a doctor with paramedics at the scene. | |
| Police also confirmed a man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby suffered slight injuries in the incident. They are also investigating reports that the suspect shouted “Britain first”, a possible reference to the far-right political party of that name, as he launched the attack. | Police also confirmed a man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby suffered slight injuries in the incident. They are also investigating reports that the suspect shouted “Britain first”, a possible reference to the far-right political party of that name, as he launched the attack. |
| Police are understood to be talking to at least one witness who claimed to have heard the attacker shout the words, and the motivation for the incident will form part of their inquiry. | Police are understood to be talking to at least one witness who claimed to have heard the attacker shout the words, and the motivation for the incident will form part of their inquiry. |
| The chief constable of West Yorkshire police, Dee Collins, said there was a large, ongoing police investigation, with heightened visibility patrols in the area. She added that weapons had been retrieved from the scene, including a firearm. | |
| There was police activity in the hours after the attack at a semi-detached house on the Fieldhead estate in Birstall. Thomas Mair, 52, is the registered occupier of the address, according to the electoral roll. Police have not officially confirmed the suspect’s identity. | There was police activity in the hours after the attack at a semi-detached house on the Fieldhead estate in Birstall. Thomas Mair, 52, is the registered occupier of the address, according to the electoral roll. Police have not officially confirmed the suspect’s identity. |
| A cordon surrounded the house as a helicopter circled overheard and forensic officers in boiler suits appeared to be searching the neat front garden, as well as around garages at the back of the well-maintained property. | A cordon surrounded the house as a helicopter circled overheard and forensic officers in boiler suits appeared to be searching the neat front garden, as well as around garages at the back of the well-maintained property. |
| ‘Britain first’ | ‘Britain first’ |
| 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. | 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 ‘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.” | “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.” |
| 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 brought to our attention. This is absolutely not the kind of behaviour we would condone.” | 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 brought to our attention. This is absolutely not the kind of behaviour we would condone.” |
| Related: Labour MP Jo Cox shot - live updates | Related: Labour MP Jo Cox shot - live updates |
| Other witnesses said the attack was launched after the MP became involved in an altercation involving two men near where she held her weekly surgery. A Labour source confirmed Cox was shot and stabbed after she had concluded the drop-in session for constituents at about 1pm. | |
| 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.” |
| 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 assault. 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.” | 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 assault. 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.” |
| But one witness, Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, who was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm, said the MP was involved in an altercation between two arguing men. | But one witness, Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, who was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm, said the MP was 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 lockdown. The firm’s head office said all the residents were 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 lockdown. The firm’s head office said all the residents were safe and accounted for following the shooting. |
| Neighbours on the Fieldhead council estate said the suspect had lived here 40 years with a female relative, who died a number of years ago, leaving him alone. | Neighbours on the Fieldhead council estate said the suspect had lived here 40 years with a female relative, who died a number of years ago, leaving him alone. |
| Kathleen Cooke, 62, said she and her daughter, Emma John, 30, had seen Mair half an hour before the attack. | Kathleen Cooke, 62, said she and her daughter, Emma John, 30, had seen Mair half an hour before the attack. |
| “I looked out of the window at about 12.30 and he walked past a carrying his bag, wearing a cap. He looked perfectly calm and normal,” said John. “He was a quiet person, kept himself to himself. We knew him around here from when he used to do our gardens,” said Cooke. | “I looked out of the window at about 12.30 and he walked past a carrying his bag, wearing a cap. He looked perfectly calm and normal,” said John. “He was a quiet person, kept himself to himself. We knew him around here from when he used to do our gardens,” said Cooke. |
| One woman, who gave her name just as Karen, said Mair did her mother’s garden regularly until a few years ago. He didn’t seem to have a job, she said. | One woman, who gave her name just as Karen, said Mair did her mother’s garden regularly until a few years ago. He didn’t seem to have a job, she said. |
| Local teenagers said he was a quiet man unless they congregated on the wall behind his house, which he didn’t like. “He’d shout at us,” said a 17-year-old. “All this we are hearing now is totally at odds with the man we thought we knew,” said one neighbour. “We knew him as someone who helped out, who did volunteering.” | Local teenagers said he was a quiet man unless they congregated on the wall behind his house, which he didn’t like. “He’d shout at us,” said a 17-year-old. “All this we are hearing now is totally at odds with the man we thought we knew,” said one neighbour. “We knew him as someone who helped out, who did volunteering.” |
| 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 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 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. |
| Cox, 41, was elected to parliament in 2015, having previously worked internationally as a head of policy and humanitarian campaigning for Oxfam. | Cox, 41, 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. |