On Friday, police arrested a 25-year-old Somalian immigrant believed to be responsible for the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.
According to police, the beloved 69-year-old MP was stabbed to death while attending a constituency meeting at Belfairs Methodist Church. Paramedics, then, worked to save Amess for two straight hours but were unable to save the “irreplaceable” MP.
“He (Amess) was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene,” police said.
The investigation is now being led by UK’s Counter Terrorism Command, police say.
“It will be for investigators to determine whether or not this is a terrorist incident. But as always, they will keep an open mind,” said Ben-Julian Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex Police, while speaking to reporters.
Witnesses say the Somalian man was calm when police took him away from the scene, and police have yet to determine the suspect’s motive for allegedly murdering Amess. A knife, the suspected murder weapon, was also picked up at the scene.
“Conscientious, assiduous, dutiful, caring, passionate, principled… [Amess] was an indefatigable campaigner for what he believed to be right… and above all, he was quintessentially a constituency parliamentarian,” said former House Speaker John Bercow.
“He could talk to and hear from and engage with anybody, from a monarch to the local milk person. He was a wonderful loving human being, and we rue his loss.”
The Union Flags have been lowered to half-mast above Downing Street as a mark of respect for Sir David Amess MP. pic.twitter.com/oNMNoguAXj
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 15, 2021
“It is an unspeakable barbarity,” continued Bercow. “But the truth is there is much toxicity in our politics, and I think this should give us pause to think and reflect on how politics is conducted in the future and whether there are security improvements.”
This is the most devastating, horrific & tragic news. David Amess was a kind & thoroughly decent man – & he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet. Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today. Right now, my heart goes out to David’s family
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 15, 2021
