The former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe was killed in a "targeted" and "brutal" attack at her home in Haytor, Devon, counter-terrorism police have confirmed, as a 28-year-old suspect remains in custody under the Terrorism Act.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said detectives had obtained a warrant to hold the white British man for up to seven days on suspicion of murder and the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. The suspect, arrested in Rotherham on Saturday and re-arrested on Monday, is believed to have made a 540-mile round trip from South Yorkshire to Devon.
“Ann Widdecombe killed in targeted attack; suspect held under Terrorism Act for up to seven days.”
Widdecombe, 78, was found dead on Thursday 9 July after sustaining serious injuries in an attack police believe took place the previous day. Her body was discovered in a pool of her own blood. In a final act before her death, she had completed a pre-recorded ten-minute Zoom interview with Christian radio station TWR-UK, starting at 11.54am and ending around 12.10pm on Wednesday – just 20 minutes before police believe she was killed. Earlier that morning, she had appeared on Talk TV at about 8am, but later failed to appear on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show at 1pm the same day.
"It is clear that this was a targeted attack," Taylor said outside New Scotland Yard. "We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack." He added that the investigation has "not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage" but that counter-terrorism probes are "running in parallel". Taylor confirmed that detectives are exploring whether the suspect was targeting other Reform UK figures, describing that as a "line of inquiry". He would not comment on whether a foreign state was involved.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons on Monday that the suspect was not known to the government's Prevent anti-terror scheme. Taylor noted the "deeply distressing impact on Miss Widdecombe's family". The attack has prompted Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to say he is "prepared to launch a serious review into MPs' safety".
As the investigation continues, Taylor stressed: "This is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old woman in her own home." The question of what motivated the killing – and whether other political figures were at risk – remains unanswered.