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 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far | Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex. | Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex. |
| 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 meeting constituents at a regular surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, when he was stabbed. | |
| Police were called to Eastwood Road North shortly after 12:05 BST on Friday, where they found Sir David injured. | Police were called to Eastwood Road North shortly after 12:05 BST on Friday, where they found Sir David injured. |
| He was treated by emergency services but died at the scene. | He was treated by emergency services but died at the scene. |
| Aerial footage showed multiple police officers outside the church and an air ambulance was seen. | Aerial footage showed multiple police officers outside the church and an air ambulance was seen. |
| Follow live updates | Follow live updates |
| Conservative MP dies after stabbing | Conservative MP dies after stabbing |
| Obituary: Conservative MP Sir David Amess | Obituary: Conservative MP Sir David Amess |
| Who is the suspect? | Who is the suspect? |
| A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after officers arrived at the scene and a knife was recovered, Essex Police said. | A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after officers arrived at the scene and a knife was recovered, Essex Police said. |
| He is in custody and police said they were not looking for anyone else. | He is in custody and police said they were not looking for anyone else. |
| Police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to come forward. | Police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to come forward. |
| 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." |
| What was the motive? | |
| Dominic Casciani, BBC Home Affairs correspondent, said: "Scotland Yard detectives and the security service MI5 are assisting Essex Police - but there's no confirmation that this was an act of terrorism. | |
| "What that means is that they are keeping an open mind - at the earliest stages of an investigation, good police work requires officers to follow the evidence, rather than inadvertently narrowing down the avenues open to them to establish why an attack happened. | |
| "In the hours to come, murder squad detectives will be interviewing the man who is in custody on suspicion of murder - he was held at the scene and there is no suggestion that he was detained after any kind of struggle. | |
| "Other teams will be going to the man's home to carry out a search and also downloading communications from any devices he may own. That communication evidence may be critical to establishing motive and mindset." | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Sir David said at the time: "Southend is unique and city status would provide long overdue recognition of what we have to offer." | Sir David said at the time: "Southend is unique and city status would provide long overdue recognition of what we have to offer." |
| 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 in east London in 1952, he went to school in London and taught at a school in the city. He was a recruitment consultant before becoming an MP. | Born in Plaistow in east London in 1952, he went to school in London 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 |
| How have people reacted? | How have people reacted? |
| Flags are flying at half mast at Downing Street and tributes are coming in from across the political spectrum. | Flags are flying at half mast at Downing Street and tributes are coming in from across the political spectrum. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "our hearts are full of shock and sadness" and that Sir David was "one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "our hearts are full of shock and sadness" and that Sir David was "one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics". |
| He had a record of "passing laws to help the most vulnerable" in society and "believed passionately in this country and in its future". | He had a record of "passing laws to help the most vulnerable" in society and "believed passionately in this country and in its future". |
| "We've lost today a fine public servant and a much loved friend and colleague," he said. | "We've lost today a fine public servant and a much loved friend and colleague," he said. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Today is a dark and a shocking day - the more so because heartbreakingly, we've been here before." | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Today is a dark and a shocking day - the more so because heartbreakingly, we've been here before." |
| He said that "informed by his faith, Sir David had a profound sense of public duty and he was highly respected and much liked across the Houses of Parliament, on all sides". | He said that "informed by his faith, Sir David had a profound sense of public duty and he was highly respected and much liked across the Houses of Parliament, on all sides". |
| He called for people to come together to show "violence, intimidation and threats will never prevail". | He called for people to come together to show "violence, intimidation and threats will never prevail". |
| Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she was "devastated" and that Sir David was a "lovely, lovely man and a superb parliamentarian". | Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she was "devastated" and that Sir David was a "lovely, lovely man and a superb parliamentarian". |
| Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he was "heartbroken", adding: "A great common sense politician and a formidable campaigner with a big heart, and tremendous generosity of spirit - including towards those he disagreed with. RIP my friend." | Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he was "heartbroken", adding: "A great common sense politician and a formidable campaigner with a big heart, and tremendous generosity of spirit - including towards those he disagreed with. RIP my friend." |
| Health Secretary Sajid Javid described him as "a great man, a great friend, and a great MP" while former Conservative prime minister David Cameron added: "This is the most devastating, horrific and tragic news. | Health Secretary Sajid Javid described him as "a great man, a great friend, and a great MP" while former Conservative prime minister David Cameron added: "This is the most devastating, horrific and tragic news. |
| "David Amess was a kind and thoroughly decent man - and he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet." | "David Amess was a kind and thoroughly decent man - and he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet." |
| Fellow former prime ministers also gave their reaction. Sir John Major said: "This is truly heartbreaking news of a good and decent man who - for over 30 years - was a dedicated public servant. My heart goes out to his family." | Fellow former prime ministers also gave their reaction. Sir John Major said: "This is truly heartbreaking news of a good and decent man who - for over 30 years - was a dedicated public servant. My heart goes out to his family." |
| And Theresa May said he was "a decent man and respected Parliamentarian, killed in his own community while carrying out his public duties. A tragic day for our democracy". | And Theresa May said he was "a decent man and respected Parliamentarian, killed in his own community while carrying out his public duties. A tragic day for our democracy". |
| Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said it was "tragic" news and "a truly terrible day for British politics". | Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said it was "tragic" news and "a truly terrible day for British politics". |
| Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said he was "deeply saddened" at the "truly despicable and horrifying act". | Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said he was "deeply saddened" at the "truly despicable and horrifying act". |
| First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said: "In a democracy, politicians must be accessible and open to scrutiny, but no one deserves to have their life taken while working for and representing their constituents." | First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said: "In a democracy, politicians must be accessible and open to scrutiny, but no one deserves to have their life taken while working for and representing their constituents." |
| Outside of politics, Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols said Sir David's death "creates a painful loss in so many lives". He described the MP as someone who "carried out his vocation as a Catholic in public life with generosity and integrity". | Outside of politics, Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols said Sir David's death "creates a painful loss in so many lives". He described the MP as someone who "carried out his vocation as a Catholic in public life with generosity and integrity". |
| And Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox MP was murdered in 2016, said: "My thoughts and love are with David's family. They are all that matter now. | And Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox MP was murdered in 2016, said: "My thoughts and love are with David's family. They are all that matter now. |
| "This brings everything back. The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo. I hope we can do the same for David now." | "This brings everything back. The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo. I hope we can do the same for David now." |