Former politician Ann Widdecombe killed in targeted attack
Former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe was killed in a “targeted attack,” though the motivation is still under investigation, reports BritPanorama.
A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and terror crimes remains in custody on an extended detention warrant under the Terrorism Act that allows police to question him for up to another week.
“It is clear that this was a targeted attack,” said Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, who informed reporters that authorities are working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation behind the attack.
The death of Widdecombe, 78, a former member of Parliament, shocked the British political landscape, where she was known for her socially conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.
Counterterror police took over the investigation Monday after new evidence was discovered. Devon and Cornwall Police had initially stated the killing was not believed to be terror-related, drawing criticism after new information suggested otherwise.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez defended her agency, acknowledging that new information often changes the nature of a fast-paced investigation.
Authorities believe Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday just past noon. She missed a scheduled TV interview about an hour later and was found dead the following day in her isolated rural home located in a village in southwest England.
While police did not disclose a cause of death, they noted she had sustained “serious injuries.” Taylor called it a “brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her own home.”
The suspect was arrested Saturday in South Yorkshire county, more than 200 miles from the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where Widdecombe died.
Police have conducted extensive searches at his home and reported finding evidence of planning, though specifics were not disclosed.
The man was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but evidence found while in custody led to his rearrest on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism.
The suspect has not been named, as he has not yet been charged. Widdecombe served in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, holding roles such as prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s Conservative government during the 1990s.
She rose to fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.” Later, she joined the Brexit Party and briefly served as a member of the European Parliament before Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she affiliated with the anti-immigration Reform UK party and made media appearances as a spokesperson.
The killing has reignited concerns regarding the security of politicians, an issue that had already been heightened after the murders of two serving members of Parliament. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was killed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.
