Police say the killing of Conservative MP David Amis was terrorism

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British police said in the early hours of Saturday morning that the killing of a prominent MP from the ruling Conservative Party was terrorism, with indications of a “possible motive” linked to “Islamic extremism”.

The announcement came, just after midnight local time, after Sir David Amis, described by the Prime Minister as a “good public servant”, was murdered on Friday after he was stabbed multiple times at a constituency meeting in southeast England.

The Metropolitan Police in London said searches for two London addresses – not far from the murder site in Lee-on-Sea, Essex – were underway. “This is continuing,” she said.

There was no immediate indication of the whereabouts of the addresses being searched in the capital.

The force said that a 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of committing the murder of a Briton.

“The Senior National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, has officially declared the incident as terrorism,” a statement from MTV said. “Early investigation revealed a possible motive linked to Islamic extremism”.

The force said the investigation is being led by officers from the Met Counter Terrorism Command, working closely with the Eastern District’s Specialized Operations Unit and Essex Police.

Ames’ death has raised new concerns about the safety of MPs at their constituency meetings.

He is the second parliamentarian to be killed in such circumstances in just over five years, after Labor’s Jo Cox was stabbed in 2016 shortly before she had ‘surgery’, where MPs meet locals face-to-face to listen to their concerns. .

Stephen Thames, another Labor MP, was seriously injured when he was stabbed at a constituency meeting in 2010. Thames praised Ames on Friday night as a “good and generous man”.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson also hailed Ames as one of the “kindest, kindest, cutest” in Parliament. “Today we lost a wonderful civil servant and a much-loved friend and colleague.” Johnson said Ames “is a firm believer in this country and its future.”

Ames, 69, has served as a Conservative Party MP for nearly four decades, representing Southend West since 1997.

He was hosting surgery for the Electors of the Belviers Methodist Church in Les-en-Seas when a man entered the building and stabbed him several times.

Essex Police said at the time that a 25-year-old man had been arrested “on suspicion of murder” and a knife had been found.

The Home Office said Home Secretary Priti Patel had asked all forces to review security arrangements for MPs with immediate effect.

Patel said Ames’ death represented a “meaningless attack on democracy itself,” adding that “questions are rightly asked about the safety of our country’s elected representatives.”

Ames’ killing has highlighted the increasingly hostile environment MPs have faced in recent years, including abuse on social media.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, praised Ames as a loyal man to his constituency and said the incident “would send shockwaves through the parliamentary community and across the country”.

He added: “In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine the security of MPs and any measures we are taking, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Ames himself had highlighted how threats to members of parliament made them less accessible to voters. In his memoirs, published this year, he wrote, “These increased attacks have corrupted the great British tradition of people openly meeting elected politicians.”

First elected to Parliament in 1983 when Margaret Thatcher was Conservative Prime Minister, Ames was a fervent champion of Southend-on-Sea, a large coastal town, and advocated many for its city status.

He was a supporter of Brexit, a member of the Leave Means Leave lobby group, and an advocate for animal welfare.

Ames was a devout Catholic and supported socially conservative values. He was succeeded by his wife Julia, his son and four daughters.

Praise for Amess came from across the political spectrum. Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labor Party, said it had been a “dark and shocking day” for the UK, adding: “We’ve been here before, heartbreakingly”.

Jackie Smith, a former Labor Home Secretary and chair of the Jo Cox Foundation that was founded after her murder, said: “This is a tragic loss for those who knew and loved Sir David . . . I knew him as a generous and loyal Fellow in Parliament. Public life must be safe for those whom we call to serve in our democracy.”

Sir Ed Davy, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, called Ames’ death “tragic and appalling” news. “It’s a really terrible day for British politics,” he said, “but most of all our prayers are with all the people who loved David.”

Nicola Sturgeon, the first Scottish minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, also paid tribute to Ames.

“In a democracy, politicians should be available and open to scrutiny, but no one deserves to be killed while working for and representing their constituents,” she said.

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