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Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far | Sir David Amess stabbing: What we know so far |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Conservative MP Sir David Amess has 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 meeting constituents at a regular surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, when he was stabbed. | 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 with multiple injuries. | Police were called to Eastwood Road North shortly after 12:05 BST on Friday, where they found Sir David with multiple injuries. |
He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. | He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. |
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 British man was arrested on suspicion of murder after officers arrived at the scene, and a knife was recovered, Essex Police said. | |
Government sources have told the BBC he is a UK national who, from initial inquiries, appears to be of Somali heritage. | |
He is in custody at an Essex police station and officers have said they are not looking for anyone else. | |
What was the motive? | |
The attack has been declared a terrorist incident. | |
Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation and police have said the early investigation has revealed "a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism". | |
The force says it is believed the man acted alone but enquiries into the circumstances are continuing. | |
What else are police saying? | What else are police saying? |
The Met Police say officers are carrying out searches at two addresses in London. | |
They have also appealed for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to come forward. | |
Essex Police chief constable BJ Harrington said Sir David had dedicated his life to serving the communities of Essex and Southend - and was "simply dispensing his duties when his life was horrifically cut short". | |
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. |
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 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". |
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". |
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said: "We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Sir David Amess, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community. | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said: "We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Sir David Amess, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community. |
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues." | "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues." |
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. | 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." |
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". | 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". |
Tributes paid to Sir David Amess | Tributes paid to Sir David Amess |