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Suspect in MP killing described as quiet, polite and reserved Suspect in MP killing described as quiet, polite and reserved
(about 2 hours later)
Jo Cox is believed to have been gunned down by her own constituent, a jobbing gardener little known beyond the Yorkshire estate on which he lived. Jo Cox is believed to have been shot dead by her own constituent, a jobbing gardener little known beyond the Yorkshire estate on which he lived.
But police were last night probing claims that the suspect, named locally as Thomas Mair, 52, had dangerous political affiliations, following witness accounts that he shouted “Britain first” as he launched the fatal assault on Thursday afternoon. But police were probing claims that the suspect, named locally as Thomas Mair, 52, had dangerous political affiliations, following witness accounts that he shouted “Britain first” as he launched the fatal assault on Thursday afternoon.
Mair had been registered as living on the Fieldhead estate in Birstall for at least 40 years, but his neighbours told the Guardian they knew little about the reserved man they knew as “Tommy”.Mair had been registered as living on the Fieldhead estate in Birstall for at least 40 years, but his neighbours told the Guardian they knew little about the reserved man they knew as “Tommy”.
They said he was quiet and polite, volunteering to do their gardens and offering horticultural tips as he passed down Lowood Lane on his regular strolls into Birstall to use the computers at the library, where Cox was killed on Thursday.They said he was quiet and polite, volunteering to do their gardens and offering horticultural tips as he passed down Lowood Lane on his regular strolls into Birstall to use the computers at the library, where Cox was killed on Thursday.
Locals thought he didn’t work but volunteered for various causes. It is also believed he had suffered mental health problems, and was quoted as praising a particular passage of care he had undertaken in the past.Locals thought he didn’t work but volunteered for various causes. It is also believed he had suffered mental health problems, and was quoted as praising a particular passage of care he had undertaken in the past.
In 2011, he was photographed by the local paper volunteering in nearby Oakwell Hall country park. The previous year he was quoted in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, saying he had begun volunteering after attending Pathways Day Centre for adults with mental health problems.In 2011, he was photographed by the local paper volunteering in nearby Oakwell Hall country park. The previous year he was quoted in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, saying he had begun volunteering after attending Pathways Day Centre for adults with mental health problems.
“I can honestly say it has done me more good than all the psychotherapy and medication in the world,” he said. “Many people who suffer from mental illness are socially isolated and disconnected from society, feelings of worthlessness are also common, mainly caused by long-term unemployment.”“I can honestly say it has done me more good than all the psychotherapy and medication in the world,” he said. “Many people who suffer from mental illness are socially isolated and disconnected from society, feelings of worthlessness are also common, mainly caused by long-term unemployment.”
He added: “All these problems are alleviated by doing voluntary work. Getting out of the house and meeting new people is a good thing, but more important in my view is doing physically demanding and useful labour.He added: “All these problems are alleviated by doing voluntary work. Getting out of the house and meeting new people is a good thing, but more important in my view is doing physically demanding and useful labour.
“When you have finished there is a feeling of achievement which is emotionally rewarding and psychologically fulfilling. For people for whom full-time, paid employment is not possible for a variety of reasons, voluntary work offers a socially positive and therapeutic alternative.”“When you have finished there is a feeling of achievement which is emotionally rewarding and psychologically fulfilling. For people for whom full-time, paid employment is not possible for a variety of reasons, voluntary work offers a socially positive and therapeutic alternative.”
Mair has two brothers: Scott Mair, 49, and a half-brother, Duane St Louis.
Talking outside his house in Dewsbury on Thursday, St Louis, 41, said he couldn’t believe the news. “I was watching Sky News and I recognised him in handcuffs on the ground,” he said. “It felt like a dream. I just couldn’t believe he’d do something like that.
“I phoned my mum and she was watching too. She tried to phone his mobile but couldn’t get through and she knew something was up.”
He insisted his brother had never expressed any racist views and seemed fine to have a mixed-race sibling. Asked whether he had any strong political views, St Louis said: “Not that I know of.”
One mother and daughter said they had seen him stroll past their house at around 12.30pm on Thursday, 25 minutes before Jo Cox was shot and stabbed. “I looked out of the window at about 12.30 and he walked past carrying his bag, wearing a cap. He looked perfectly calm and normal,” said Emma John, 30. Her mother, Kathleen Cooke, said he didn’t seem particularly agitated as he strolled past.One mother and daughter said they had seen him stroll past their house at around 12.30pm on Thursday, 25 minutes before Jo Cox was shot and stabbed. “I looked out of the window at about 12.30 and he walked past carrying his bag, wearing a cap. He looked perfectly calm and normal,” said Emma John, 30. Her mother, Kathleen Cooke, said he didn’t seem particularly agitated as he strolled past.
Two separate witnesses have described the gunman in the attack as shouting “Britain first” as he stabbed, shot and kicked Cox.Two separate witnesses have described the gunman in the attack as shouting “Britain first” as he stabbed, shot and kicked Cox.
Graeme Howard, 38, who lives in nearby Bond Street, said the man shouted “Britain first” before shooting the MP.Graeme Howard, 38, who lives in nearby Bond Street, said the man shouted “Britain first” before shooting the MP.
He said: “He was shouting Britain first when he was doing it and being arrested.” He said: “He was shouting ‘Britain first’ when he was doing it and being arrested.”
Meanwhile, another eyewitness, Clarke Rothwell, told the Examiner: “He was shouting what sounded like ‘Britain first, Britain first’ but then seemed to panic and hurried off. Another eyewitness, Clarke Rothwell, told the Huddersfield Daily Examiner: “He was shouting what sounded like ‘Britain first, Britain first’ but then seemed to panic and hurried off.
“He seemed scared and hurried off towards Union Street, dumping a jacket on the floor. I got into my van and tried to follow him but I lost him.”“He seemed scared and hurried off towards Union Street, dumping a jacket on the floor. I got into my van and tried to follow him but I lost him.”
A name matching that of the alleged suspect also appears on an extremist website. It describes him as “one of the earliest subscribers and supporters of” a certain extremist publication which is alleged to be linked to white supremacy.A name matching that of the alleged suspect also appears on an extremist website. It describes him as “one of the earliest subscribers and supporters of” a certain extremist publication which is alleged to be linked to white supremacy.
The semi-detached house where it is believed the gunman lived was surrounded by a police cordon on Thursday afternoon. Uniformed officers guarded the property as the immaculate front garden was searched by forensic experts in white boilersuits. Net curtains in the front room were drawn. Neighbours said they were just about to settle down to watch the England-Wales match when police arrived at the property. The semi-detached house where it is believed the gunman lived was surrounded by a police cordon on Thursday afternoon. Uniformed officers guarded the property as the immaculate front garden was searched by forensic experts. Net curtains in the front room were drawn. Neighbours said they were just about to settle down to watch the England v Wales match when police arrived at the property.
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. She thought he had lived alone for some years since his grandmother died. One woman, Karen, said Mair did her mother’s garden regularly until a few years ago. She thought he had lived alone for some years since his grandmother died.
Local teenagers said he was a quiet man who kept himself to himself unless they congregated on the wall behind his house, which he didn’t like. “He’d shout at us,” said a 17-year-old.Local teenagers said he was a quiet man who kept himself to himself 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 others, not hurt them.”“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 others, not hurt them.”
Nick Gannon, 33, who lived two doors away from Mair, had known him since he was 10 years old. “It’s shocking. He were a quiet guy, you would not think it of him. He would cut elderly people’s grass voluntarily. There were no reason to think he would be capable of something like this. Nick Gannon, 33, who lived two doors away from Mair, had known him since he was 10 years old. “It’s shocking,” he said. “He were a quiet guy, you would not think it of him. He would cut elderly people’s grass voluntarily. There were no reason to think he would be capable of something like this.
“He was friendly. If you said hello to him, he would say hello back. He was not aggressive or anything. He wasn’t frightening.” He added that Mair’s grandmother had died about 20 years ago and he had lived alone ever since. “He was friendly. If you said hello to him, he would say hello back. He was not aggressive or anything. He wasn’t frightening.”
He added that Mair’s grandmother had died about 20 years ago and he had lived alone ever since.
Mair’s mother, Mary, said she was too upset to speak on Thursday, but her neighbours talked of their shock at the news. One woman, who asked not to be named, said Mair was a “devoted son” who did his mum’s shopping twice a week, and would bring two carrier bags around on foot, before walking several miles up the hill back to his house. He had visited last on Wednesday, she said.Mair’s mother, Mary, said she was too upset to speak on Thursday, but her neighbours talked of their shock at the news. One woman, who asked not to be named, said Mair was a “devoted son” who did his mum’s shopping twice a week, and would bring two carrier bags around on foot, before walking several miles up the hill back to his house. He had visited last on Wednesday, she said.
She insisted it was “totally out of character” and that he had never been in trouble with police before. She said he “practically lived in the library. He was obsessed with books. His house is full of them.” She insisted it was “totally out of character” and that he had never been in trouble with police before. She said he “practically lived in the library”.
“He was obsessed with books,” she said. “His house is full of them.”