British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday laid flowers exterior the church the place a lawmaker was stabbed to demise a day earlier, in what police say was a terrorist assault in all probability linked to Islamist extremism.
The assault on David Amess, from Johnson’s Conservative Party, comes 5 years after the homicide of Jo Cox, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, and has prompted a overview of the safety of elected politicians.
Amess, 69, was knifed repeatedly within the assault at about noon on Friday in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London, throughout a gathering with constituents. learn extra
Police arrested a 25-year-old British man on the scene on suspicion of homicide, including it’s believed he acted alone.
In a press release early on Saturday, police mentioned the early investigation had revealed a possible motivation linked to Islamist extremism.
Police officers are seen on the scene the place MP David Amess was stabbed throughout constituency surgical procedure, in Leigh-on-Sea, Britain October 15, 2021. (Reuters)
Johnson, inside minister Priti Patel, and Labour Party chief Keir Starmer had been amongst these to put flowers in tribute to Amess on the scene of the homicide.
“To the memory of Sir David Amess MP, a fine parliamentarian and a much-loved colleague and friend,” Johnson mentioned in a hand-written observe positioned within the flowers, including in a Twitter publish that his ideas had been with Amess’ household and buddies.
Johnson and Starmer stood facet by facet in a second of silence earlier than leaving. Other politicians, police representatives and members of the general public got here to put flowers and pay respects.
Britain’s Labour Party chief Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Boris Johnson observe a second of silence as they arrive on the scene the place British MP David Amess was stabbed to demise. (Reuters)
Cannot be cowed
As tributes poured in for Amess, politicians described the assault as an assault on democracy, and Patel mentioned safety for lawmakers, often known as MPs, was being reviewed and strengthened.
“All measures are being put in place for the security of MPs so that they can carry on with their duties as elected democratic members,” Patel mentioned in a broadcast clip following the go to.
“We live in an open society, a democracy. We cannot be cowed by any individual.”
In Westminster, the place lawmakers do a lot of their work in parliament, armed police are on patrol. But of their electoral districts, often known as constituencies, most of the time there isn’t any safety.
Amess was stabbed whereas holding a surgical procedure – one-to-one conferences with voters, open to whoever turns up.
Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood mentioned that whereas engagement with the general public was a significant a part of the job, there was now enormous anxiousness amongst MPs and known as for a pause in such conferences.
Patel mentioned Amess was killed doing a job he liked, and lawmakers ought to stay accessible to the general public.
“We will continue to absolutely stand by the principles that we are elected by: to serve our constituents in the open way in which we have been doing so, but also recognising that there are safety and protection measures that we have to undertake too,” Patel mentioned.
