Ann Widdecombe killing was 'targeted attack', UK counter-terror police say; foreign interference not ruled out

The killing last week of former British minister Ann Widdecombe was a targeted attack, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing said on Tuesday, as detectives were granted additional time to question a 28-year-old suspect arrested in Rotherham.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, last Thursday with what police described as serious injuries. A white British man was arrested on Saturday evening on suspicion of murder and has since been rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

It is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation that sits behind that attack.

Political reaction and security review

The killing has rekindled a long-running debate about the safety of public figures in Britain. Two serving MPs have been murdered in the last decade. Andy Burnham, who is expected to become prime minister next week, called for a serious review of lawmakers' security.

I do think we need now a serious review of MPs' security. I certainly am prepared to do that... we do have to deal with the reality of the situation we're in.

Burnham also pointed to the role of social media in building toxicity around political debate. Separately, Police Scotland confirmed it was investigating a social media post that allegedly celebrated Widdecombe's death, reportedly made by a University of Aberdeen employee. The university said the comments do not represent its views and that it was cooperating with police.

Investigation and possible motives

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told reporters at Scotland Yard that detectives were not ruling out the involvement of foreign state actors. "I don't want to rule anything out at this stage, and we're retaining an open mind," he said. The Guardian reported that investigators were considering whether leftwing, anarchist and single-issue terrorism played a role in the suspect's alleged motivation. Taylor also confirmed that whether a TV appearance might have motivated the killing, and whether the suspect was targeting other Reform UK figures, were both lines of inquiry.

I don't want to rule anything out at this stage.

Devon and Cornwall Police initially said there was nothing to suggest a political motivation. Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, said on Tuesday she was confident the force had provided a substantial and professional response.

Widdecombe's political career

Widdecombe sat as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 and served as prisons minister from 1995 to 1997. A fervent Brexit supporter, she left the Conservatives in 2019 to join Nigel Farage's Reform UK, under whose banner she was elected as an MEP and later became a party spokesperson. She was a blunt-speaking, socially conservative voice who opposed abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Parliament on Monday that Widdecombe's killing raised questions about the security of public figures, adding that politics should not be dangerous.

What happens next

Suspects can be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act after detectives obtained a warrant of further detention. Counter-terrorism officers took over the investigation on Monday from Devon and Cornwall Police after new evidence came to light, and Taylor said the investigation was taking place amid unprecedented demands on counter-terrorism policing and a complex, increased threat picture.