Former British politician Ann Widdecombe’s killing is being treated as terrorism, United Kingdom police have confirmed.
Counter-terrorism police took over the investigation into the death of the 78-year-old after “new information and evidence” came to light, officers said.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Devon on July 9. Police believe she was killed some 24 hours earlier, around midday local time on July 8.
A 28-year-old white British man who was initially arrested for murder at the weekend has been rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing Southeast said.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK Home Secretary, said the suspect was not known to Prevent, the Government’s counter-extremism programme.
Laurence Taylor, the head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said today: “We now have new information and evidence that means counter-terrorism policing is now leading the investigation”.
Devon and Cornwall police had previously said there was no suggestion that the alleged murder was politically motivated.
However, Reform UK sources raised the prospect that the suspect might have been motivated by Widdecombe’s politics. One said: “It is clear to everybody that we are being gaslit by the police”.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said: “A lot of journalists must now apologise to Nigel [Farage] and us at Reform. You know who you are.”
Mahmood said she had offered Farage a meeting with the head of a parliamentary body responsible for politicians’ security.
She told MPs: “I’m happy to offer a meeting for Mr Farage with the chair of Ravec (Royal and VIP Executive Committee), the independent body within the Home Office that manages the security of those in public life.
“I will also be looking at what security guidance can be provided to former members of Parliament, which I hope to work with you on Mr Speaker, as well as those who serve a party outside of this place.”
The move comes after CCTV footage appeared to show a young man leaving an address linked to the suspect.
The video, obtained by the Sun, was taken at around 7am local time on Wednesday, the day on which it is thought the former MP was murdered. Widdecombe’s remote home in Haytor is approximately a four-hour drive from where the suspect was arrested.
Neighbours said they saw him putting “some kind of wooden pole” into the passenger side of a red car before driving off.
At a press conference yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall police had said: “At this point, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident. At this point we are not looking at anyone else in connection with this murder.
“Detectives remain open-minded about the potential motive. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest it was politically motivated.”
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