This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58922522
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 12 | Version 13 |
---|---|
Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far | Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Forensics officers continued to work at the scene on Saturday | Forensics officers continued to work at the scene on Saturday |
Conservative MP Sir David Amess died after being stabbed multiple times at his Essex constituency surgery, in what police are treating as a terrorist incident. | Conservative MP Sir David Amess died after being stabbed multiple times at his Essex constituency surgery, in what police are treating as a terrorist incident. |
Here's how the attack unfolded and what we know so far. | Here's how the attack unfolded and what we know so far. |
What happened? | What happened? |
The MP for Southend West was stabbed at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex. He was there for one of his regular Friday meetings with his constituents. | The MP for Southend West was stabbed at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex. He was there for one of his regular Friday meetings with his constituents. |
Just 15 minutes before the attack, the 69-year-old was standing on the church steps, chatting and laughing with locals. | Just 15 minutes before the attack, the 69-year-old was standing on the church steps, chatting and laughing with locals. |
At about 12:05 BST on Friday, Sir David walked into the church alongside two female members of his staff to meet more constituents. | |
Local councillor John Lamb said that it was then a man emerged from a small group of waiting constituents and attacked Sir David, stabbing him several times. | |
"I'm told that when he went in for his surgery there were people waiting to see him, and one of them literally got a knife out and just began stabbing him," Mr Lamb said. | "I'm told that when he went in for his surgery there were people waiting to see him, and one of them literally got a knife out and just began stabbing him," Mr Lamb said. |
Police arrived at the scene in Eastwood Road North within minutes where they found the MP with multiple injuries and arrested a man. | Police arrived at the scene in Eastwood Road North within minutes where they found the MP with multiple injuries and arrested a man. |
How a tragic day unfolded in Leigh-on-Sea | How a tragic day unfolded in Leigh-on-Sea |
Obituary: Conservative MP Sir David Amess | Obituary: Conservative MP Sir David Amess |
"We knew it must be very serious because the paramedics had been working on Sir David for over two and a half hours and they hadn't got him on the way to hospital," Mr Lamb told the PA news agency. | "We knew it must be very serious because the paramedics had been working on Sir David for over two and a half hours and they hadn't got him on the way to hospital," Mr Lamb told the PA news agency. |
At 14:13 an air ambulance arrived at a nearby sports ground to move him to hospital. However, members of his team began to fear the worst as paramedics remained at the scene. | At 14:13 an air ambulance arrived at a nearby sports ground to move him to hospital. However, members of his team began to fear the worst as paramedics remained at the scene. |
Shortly before 15:00, Essex Police said Sir David had died. | Shortly before 15:00, Essex Police said Sir David had died. |
Who is the suspect? | Who is the suspect? |
At 13:50 on Friday, Essex Police confirmed a 25-year-old man had been arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder, and that a knife had been recovered. | At 13:50 on Friday, Essex Police confirmed a 25-year-old man had been arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder, and that a knife had been recovered. |
Whitehall officials have confirmed to the BBC that the suspect - who is being held at a London police station under the Terrorism Act 2000 - is Ali Harbi Ali, a British national of Somali heritage. | Whitehall officials have confirmed to the BBC that the suspect - who is being held at a London police station under the Terrorism Act 2000 - is Ali Harbi Ali, a British national of Somali heritage. |
He was not on the MI5 "subjects of interest" watch list, according to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. | He was not on the MI5 "subjects of interest" watch list, according to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. |
Officers have said they are not looking for anyone else. | Officers have said they are not looking for anyone else. |
The BBC understands Mr Ali was referred to the counter-terrorist Prevent scheme a few years ago. | The BBC understands Mr Ali was referred to the counter-terrorist Prevent scheme a few years ago. |
Prevent is the UK's terrorism-prevention programme, which aims to stop people being radicalised. | Prevent is the UK's terrorism-prevention programme, which aims to stop people being radicalised. |
Teachers, members of the public, the NHS and others can refer individuals to a local panel of police, social workers and other experts who decide whether and how to intervene in their lives. | Teachers, members of the public, the NHS and others can refer individuals to a local panel of police, social workers and other experts who decide whether and how to intervene in their lives. |
Engagement in the scheme is voluntary and it is not a criminal sanction. It's thought Mr Ali did not spend long in the programme. | Engagement in the scheme is voluntary and it is not a criminal sanction. It's thought Mr Ali did not spend long in the programme. |
What do police say? | What do police say? |
The attack has been declared a terrorist incident by police. | The attack has been declared a terrorist incident by police. |
The early investigation revealed "a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism", according to Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command. | The early investigation revealed "a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism", according to Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command. |
Mr Ali was initially detained on suspicion of murder but was further detained under the Terrorism Act late on Friday. | Mr Ali was initially detained on suspicion of murder but was further detained under the Terrorism Act late on Friday. |
On Saturday, detectives were granted a warrant by magistrates to allow them to keep Mr Ali in custody until Friday 22 October. | On Saturday, detectives were granted a warrant by magistrates to allow them to keep Mr Ali in custody until Friday 22 October. |
The force says it is believed that the man acted alone but enquiries are continuing. | The force says it is believed that the man acted alone but enquiries are continuing. |
Officers spent Saturday searching three undisclosed addresses in the London area. A post-mortem examination has taken place, the police added. | Officers spent Saturday searching three undisclosed addresses in the London area. A post-mortem examination has taken place, the police added. |
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer (left) and PM Boris Johnson visited the scene to lay flowers on Saturday | Labour's Sir Keir Starmer (left) and PM Boris Johnson visited the scene to lay flowers on Saturday |
What did witnesses see? | What did witnesses see? |
Anthony Finch, who was working nearby, told Sky News: "We arrived to do some work on the adjacent building... and at the point when I was crossing the road I saw an upset lady on the phone saying 'you need to arrive quickly, he's still in the building.'" | Anthony Finch, who was working nearby, told Sky News: "We arrived to do some work on the adjacent building... and at the point when I was crossing the road I saw an upset lady on the phone saying 'you need to arrive quickly, he's still in the building.'" |
He said he had seen armed police, as well as an air ambulance and police helicopter. He told LBC: "It's very odd and it's very distressing, that's for sure." | He said he had seen armed police, as well as an air ambulance and police helicopter. He told LBC: "It's very odd and it's very distressing, that's for sure." |
Lee Jordison, who works for a local butchers and was on the scene shortly after the stabbing, told the BBC everyone in the area was in a state of shock. | Lee Jordison, who works for a local butchers and was on the scene shortly after the stabbing, told the BBC everyone in the area was in a state of shock. |
"Something like this doesn't happen - not in all the years I've been round this way." | "Something like this doesn't happen - not in all the years I've been round this way." |
Who was Sir David Amess? | Who was Sir David Amess? |
Sir David, who was married with five children, served as an MP for 38 years, initially in Basildon from 1983, before representing Southend West from 1997. | Sir David, who was married with five children, served as an MP for 38 years, initially in Basildon from 1983, before representing Southend West from 1997. |
Raised as a Roman Catholic, he was known politically as a social conservative and a prominent campaigner against abortion. He was also a committed campaigner on animal welfare issues, and supported a ban on fox hunting. | Raised as a Roman Catholic, he was known politically as a social conservative and a prominent campaigner against abortion. He was also a committed campaigner on animal welfare issues, and supported a ban on fox hunting. |
Tributes paid to Sir David Amess | Tributes paid to Sir David Amess |
The 69-year-old was a Brexit supporter and vocal champion for the town he represented, particularly in his long-running campaign to make Southend a city. He launched a new bid last month, after a city status competition was announced to mark the Queen's platinum jubilee next year. | The 69-year-old was a Brexit supporter and vocal champion for the town he represented, particularly in his long-running campaign to make Southend a city. He launched a new bid last month, after a city status competition was announced to mark the Queen's platinum jubilee next year. |
While he was never a minister, he was a member of numerous Commons committees, including the Health and Social Care and Backbench Business Committee. | While he was never a minister, he was a member of numerous Commons committees, including the Health and Social Care and Backbench Business Committee. |
Born in Plaistow, east London, in 1952, he went to school in the capital and taught at a school in the city. He was a recruitment consultant before becoming an MP. | Born in Plaistow, east London, in 1952, he went to school in the capital and taught at a school in the city. He was a recruitment consultant before becoming an MP. |
He was knighted in the 2015 New Year's Honours List for political and public service. | He was knighted in the 2015 New Year's Honours List for political and public service. |
Sir David was a champion for the town he represented | Sir David was a champion for the town he represented |