Counter-terror police are main the investigation into the suspected homicide of Ann Widdecombe.
The former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home on Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday morning having suffered severe head accidents – however police imagine that she was attacked practically 24 hours earlier than she was found.
Ann Widdecombe suspect arrest
Sky Information
“New info and proof have come to mild throughout what has been a dynamic and complicated investigation and in consequence, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) is now main the investigation.
“The person in custody has since been re-arrested on suspicion of fee, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.”
Right here is all the pieces we learn about Ann Widdecombe’s death to this point.
Ann Widdecombe was born in Bathtub, Somerset, in 1947.
She had an extended political profession serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone, later Maidstone and The Weald, in Kent for 23 years.
Shadow residence secretary Ann Widdecombe highlights the asylum disaster on a go to to Calais, France in 2001 (Sean Dempsey/PA)
PA Archive
She was additionally Minister of State for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State for Prisons from between 1995 and 1997 beneath John Main.
Following her time in authorities, she discovered fame exterior politics after showing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celeb Large Brother in 2018.
Miss Widdecombe, a supporter of the UK’s departure from the EU, later grew to become a Brexit Social gathering MEP, representing South West England within the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.
She subsequently grew to become a Reform UK spokeswoman, becoming a member of the occasion in 2023, and making a lot of appearances because the occasion’s immigration and justice spokesperson.
Police investigating the homicide of Ann Widdecombe have made an arrest (Ben Birchall/PA)
PA Archive
What occurred to her and when?
Devon and Cornwall Police have been referred to as to Miss Widdecombe’s residence in Haytor Vale, a village throughout the Dartmoor Nationwide Park, at round 11.40am on Thursday, the place they discovered her lifeless with severe accidents.
Her dying was introduced on Friday morning.
Police exterior the home of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor
PA
In a press release, her administration crew mentioned: “We all know this information will come as a fantastic shock to the various colleagues and pals she made alongside the best way.”
On Friday afternoon, police issued a press release saying that they had launched a murder investigation in connection to Miss Widdecombe’s dying.
Her administration crew then launched an extra assertion, saying they have been “completely devastated” by information of the investigation after a “very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours”.
Devon and Cornwall Police initially mentioned there was no cause to imagine that the dying was politically motivated or linked to terrorism.
Nevertheless, counter-terror officers did help the pressure throughout the arrest in Yorkshire and on Monday it was introduced they might be taking on the investigation.
What do we all know in regards to the suspect?
On Saturday night time, a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Miss Widdecombe’s homicide round 270 miles away from the crime scene.
CCTV seems to indicate armed police storming the deal with in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and taking the white British nationwide into custody.
Communist and different political literature was reportedly discovered on the residence of the suspected killer.
Devon and Cornwall Police had initially mentioned there was no suggestion that Miss Widdicombe’s dying was linked terrorism.
Nevertheless, counter-terror detectives have now taken over the case and are investigating whether or not the previous MP was bludgeoned to dying in a premeditated assault on Reform UK.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman has mentioned that officers are usually not presently on the lookout for anybody else in relation to Miss Widdecombe’s dying.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, reads a press release on the investigation into the dying of Ann Widdecombe on Tuesday, July 14
PA
Police are probing whether or not the suspect was motivated by left-wing extremism and planning additional violence in opposition to different high-profile figures.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor informed reporters on Tuesday the query of whether or not a TV look might need motivated her killing can also be a “line of inquiry”.
Miss Widdecombe spoke to Mark Dolan by video-link on Discuss TV simply after 8am on Wednesday – a bit greater than 4 hours earlier than police imagine she was attacked.
Dwelling Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the person was not identified to the Authorities’s Forestall anti-terror scheme.
A 26-year-old white British man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of homicide in reference to Miss Widdecombe’s dying – nevertheless he was launched from custody on Saturday and is not a part of the investigation.
Whereas Miss Widdecombe’s physique was found on Thursday morning, police imagine that she died round 12.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.
She was to seem on due on Channel 5‘s Matt Allwright present at 1pm to reply questions on occasion chief Nigel Farage‘s Clacton-on-Sea by-election and the inquiry into his funds.
Police exterior the home of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor
PA
Textual content messages launched to the general public present Miss Widdecombe’s speaking to one of many present’s producers, along with her closing message being despatched at 12.19pm.
She didn’t reply to a Zoom hyperlink despatched at 12.48pm, and did not reply additional calls and messages from the manufacturing workers.
There have been quite a few studies a few “thriller automobile” seen close to Miss Widdecombe’s home across the time of the assault.
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage informed media that he had been informed a automobile was seen on her driveway at roughly 12.25 to 12.30pm on Wednesday.
The supervisor of a storage in Haytor alerted police at round 9am on Wednesday after his colleague noticed a darkish VW Golf Mk4 parked in a “unusual place” close to Miss Widdecombe’s residence.
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, residence affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf, and deputy chief Richard Tice pay their respects close to the house of Ann Widdecombe
PA
He mentioned: “[The Golf] was on the high of the lane close to Ann’s place. If it was an area they might have parked within the automobile park or one of many lay–bys.
“He was doing up his strolling boots. He was in his late 20s, possibly early 30s. He was sporting shorts and a T-shirt. I bear in mind pondering, “Why is he parked there?” He was midway out the lay-by.
“It did not seem like he fitted in. You do not see many late 20s, early 30s males round right here. He was heading up in that course [of Ann’s house].”
Police haven’t confirmed any additional particulars relating to the automobile or suspect.
The Solar launched CCTV footage that they declare is of the suspect for Miss Widdecombe’s homicide getting right into a automobile with an object that seems to be a picket stick in his shorts pocket.
The footage seems to have been recorded shortly earlier than 8am on Wednesday – 4 and a half hours and 267 miles away from the scene of the assault.
Police exercise in Rotherham (Dave Higgens/PA)
PA Wire
The Solar have additionally obtained CCTV that they declare exhibits police arriving to arrest the person simply earlier than 10pm on Saturday.
Officers in balaclavas stormed the terraced property and arrested the suspect with no battle.
What has been the response to her dying?
A lot of politicians and outstanding figures have made statements following the announcement of Miss Widdecombe’s dying.
Sir Keir mentioned: He mentioned: “That is actually stunning information, and my ideas, I feel all of our ideas, can be with the household and pals of Ann Widdecombe at this terrible time for them.
“Ann was a distinguished politician over many, a few years with many achievements, and it’s an enormous, enormous loss.
Sir Keir Starmer
PA Wire
He added that he had spoken to Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK chief Nigel Farage, in addition to Andy Burnham, to “urge everyone to return collectively”.
“Ann Widdecombe was a really enjoyable and feisty girl who spoke her thoughts and he or she was 78 years previous, she was an aged girl.
“I don’t perceive how somebody might do one thing so horrific to an aged individual. It was a nasty, horrific assault and my coronary heart is breaking for her household.”
Conservative Social gathering chief Kemi Badenoch
PA
A spokeswoman for Andy Burnham mentioned: “Andy’s deepest condolences and ideas are with Ann’s household at this time, in extremely distressing circumstances.
“Ann gave a lifetime of public service, and it’s completely proper that the police put all their assets into investigating this as swiftly as attainable.”
Anton Du Beke, who was Miss Widdecombe’s dance companion when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, mentioned he was “devastated” to listen to the information.
“She grew to become an actual good friend. She was enjoyable. She was upbeat. She was constructive. She was supportive. We had an unimaginable time collectively and we stayed agency pals.
“My ideas exit to all of her nearest and dearest and all her household. This can be a unhappy day and I’m devastated by the information of Ann’s passing however I shall bear in mind her fondly, and miss her.”
Ann Widdecombe discovered fame exterior politics along with her Strictly Come Dancing exploits
PA Media
Alison and Simon Gilbert, who’ve lived in in Haytor Vale for greater than a decade, mentioned Ann Widdecombe was a well known determine domestically.
Mrs Gilbert mentioned: “She was a pleasant girl, very nice girl, and he or she had a fantastic sense of humour.
“It’s a stunning space – you discuss to strangers.
“Everybody noticed her as fairly an opinionated politician, however to us she was only a individual in the neighborhood.
“To begin with, we obtained again and noticed police and thought possibly it was a housebreaking, plenty of us suspected she had a coronary heart assault or one thing.”
“She didn’t need to die like that,” Mr Gilbert added.
One girl dwelling in Haytor Vale, who didn’t want to be named, mentioned: “I by no means met (Ann Widdecombe) though I’ve lived right here all my life.
“It’s tragic, somebody offers all their life to public service after which they finish like that.
“(Haytor) is a protected space. Each couple of years or so, anyone goes across the backyard sheds and nicks all of the costly gardening gear. That’s so far as it goes actually.
“We’ve by no means had something shut (to this) in all my years.”
