Leaders condemn attack; man taken into custody
Venkat Raman
Wellington, October 16, 2021
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.
The MP for Southend West was meeting constituents at a regular surgery at Belfair’s Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex when he was stabbed.
The tragedy
Police were called to Eastwood Road North shortly after 12:05 BST on Friday, (corresponding to (12.05 am NZT on Saturday) and found Sir David with multiple injuries.
He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
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 that 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. 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.”
Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington said that 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.”
It is believed the man acted alone but enquiries into the circumstances are continuing.
About Sir David Amess
Sir David Amess was born in Plaistow in East London in 1952. He went to school in London and worked as a teacher and later as a recruitment consultant before entering the House of Commons in 1983. He represented Basildon and then 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.
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.
He was knighted in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List for political and public service. He was married and had five children.
Sir David was the second Member of the House of Commons to be murdered.
Labour MP’s murder
On June 16, 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox died after being shot and stabbed multiple times on a Birstall Village street, where she was due to hold a constituency surgery. Thomas Mair, who held far-right views, was found guilty of her murder and was sentenced to life with a whole-life order.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Our hearts are full of shock and sadness at the loss of one of the kindest people in politics. Sir David had an outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable. He was a man who believed passionately in this country and its future. We have lost a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague,” he said.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that Sir David was “a great man, a great friend, and a great MP, killed while fulfilling his democratic role.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said that the killing “represents a senseless attack on democracy itself,” adding that “questions are rightly being asked about the safety of our country’s elected representatives.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the murder of Sir David as devastating.
“I send New Zealand’s thoughts to the family, friends and constituents of Sir David. No matter where you are in the world, those who represent their communities in Parliament should be safe. To hear that someone has lost their life while serving their people is devastating. We send our love to Sir David’s family, and our condemnation for this act of violence,” she said.
National Party Leader Judith Collins also expressed sadness, calling the killing shocking and deeply disturbing.
“That a hardworking and respected Member of Parliament should be killed while performing his duty to the public has rightly sent shockwaves through politics. It is a sad and sobering reminder that we live in times where there is deepening divisions in our democratic society – divisions that are becoming increasingly dangerous at both ends of the political spectrum. This incident reminds us that while people should be free to disagree and to debate the issues, resorting to violence is unconscionable,” she said.
Source: BBC News
