MP Sir David Amis killed in terrorist incident | UK news

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Police have declared the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP Sir David Amis a terrorist incident.

Sir David, who represented Southend West in Essex, was stabbed Friday afternoon during an operation at Belvers Methodist Church in Les-on-Sea.

Police officers and paramedics tried to save him but he died at the scene.

In a statement, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Police, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, said the incident was officially declared terrorism.

The Metropolitan Police said an early investigation revealed a “possible motive linked to Islamic extremism”.

A 25-year-old man – understood to be British of Somali descent – has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

He is being held at Essex Police Station.

Police said in the early hours of Saturday morning that they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Sir David’s death, but investigations were continuing.

They added that two properties in London were also searched as part of the investigation.

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Sir David Amis: A Life in Politics

Earlier on Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among those who expressed “shock and sadness” after Sir David’s death.

The father of five has been an MP for 38 years, and although he has never held a cabinet position, he has been known as the one who took the cases of some of his most vulnerable constituents.

The 69-year-old is the second lawmaker to be murdered in their constituency in just over five years, after the 2016 murder of Labor’s Jo Cox.

Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday asked all police forces to review MPs’ security arrangements immediately, while House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle vowed to “check” safety measures.

He told Sky News he went ahead with his constituency surgery on Friday despite news of Sir David’s death.

“Nothing stops democracy and nothing prevents us from carrying out our duties,” he said.

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