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| Jo Cox shooting: Man who shot and stabbed Labour MP shouted ‘Britain First’, says eyewitness | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who attacked and shot Labour MP Jo Cox outside her constituency office reportedly shouted “Britain First”. | |
| According to the Guardian 38-year-old Graeme Howard said he heard a man shout “Britain First” during the attack. The police would not confirm to The Independent whether they were investigating this but said they will be holding a press conference shortly. | |
| Get the latest updates on Jo Cox via our liveblog | Get the latest updates on Jo Cox via our liveblog |
| A Labour spokesperson said: “We're aware of the incident that happened this afternoon. All our thoughts are with Jo Cox and her family. We cannot give any further updates at this time." | A Labour spokesperson said: “We're aware of the incident that happened this afternoon. All our thoughts are with Jo Cox and her family. We cannot give any further updates at this time." |
| A second eyewitness Clarke Rothwell told the Examiner that the man shouted “Britain First, Britain First”. She was reportedly within yards of the attack in Birstall. | |
| He added: “I looked round and there was a guy standing over a woman on the floor. He seemed to have what looked like an old gun, like a musket, in his hand and he shot her again in the middle. He then seemed to shoot a third time, towards her head or face. | |
| "He was also stabbing at her with what looked like a hunting knife, about a foot long. He was stabbing her and waving the knife around. A man who I know as Bernard tried to get near but the man swung his knife around and caught him in the stomach. Blood started coming out.” | |
| Aamir Tahir, of the Dry Clean Centre, said the gunman was heard shouting "Britain first". He said: "The lady I work with heard two loud bangs but I wasn't there, I was stuck in traffic at the time. I wish I was there because I would have tried to stop him. | Aamir Tahir, of the Dry Clean Centre, said the gunman was heard shouting "Britain first". He said: "The lady I work with heard two loud bangs but I wasn't there, I was stuck in traffic at the time. I wish I was there because I would have tried to stop him. |
| "The whole street thinks it was me but it wasn't. Apparently the guy who did it shouted 'Britain first' and if I had been there I would have tackled him." | "The whole street thinks it was me but it wasn't. Apparently the guy who did it shouted 'Britain first' and if I had been there I would have tackled him." |
| A witness told the Dewsbury Reporter: “The whole scene has been tapped off. There are armed police everywhere”. Another witness said an onlooker tackled a man to the floor and tried to take the gun from him. Moments later, a second shot was heard. | A witness told the Dewsbury Reporter: “The whole scene has been tapped off. There are armed police everywhere”. Another witness said an onlooker tackled a man to the floor and tried to take the gun from him. Moments later, a second shot was heard. |
| Witness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside. He told Sky News: "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." | Witness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside. He told Sky News: "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. |
| 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." |
| Witness Daniel Blyth, 38, a company director from the town, told the Yorkshire Post newspaper that the assault was “unusual”. He added: “I saw seven police cars racing up Leeds Road towards Morley. They were unmarked BMWs,” he said. | Witness Daniel Blyth, 38, a company director from the town, told the Yorkshire Post newspaper that the assault was “unusual”. He added: “I saw seven police cars racing up Leeds Road towards Morley. They were unmarked BMWs,” he said. |
| “There are two helicopters flying overhead. It all seems very dramatic. I have heard that two people have been shot but I’m not who are why. It’s all very unusual for Birstall.” | “There are two helicopters flying overhead. It all seems very dramatic. I have heard that two people have been shot but I’m not who are why. It’s all very unusual for Birstall.” |