A 25-year-old man has been charged over the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, as well as terror offences
Sir David Amess, who was the Conservative representative Southend West in Essex, was stabbed to death last Friday as he was attending a meeting with his constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
Ali Harbi Ali has also been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts after the MP had died from “serious injuries” at the church he was holding a routine constituency surgery at last Friday, Matt Jukes, the Met Police assistant commissioner for special operations has said.
Ali, who is from north London, remains in police custody and will be appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon in order to face the charges.
From the Crown Prosecution Service, Nick Price said: “We will submit to the court that this murder has a terrorist connection, namely that it had both religious and ideological motivations.
This comes after Dominic Raab has told LBC that he wants to draft in British ex-offenders and existing prisoners in order to support the economy instead of relying on foreign labour’s “old addiction”.
“He has also been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts. This follows a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.”
No other arrests have yet been made during the extensive investigation that has seen a large team of detectives working “around the clock”, Mr Jukes said.
He added that a number of London addresses have been searched, digital devices scoured and a “painstaking” review of CCTV footage has taken place.
Counter-terror police are not seeking anybody else in connection with Sir David’s murder.
Mr Jukes added: “I understand the huge level of public interest in this case, but now a charge has been brought, it is vitally important that everyone exercises restraint when commenting on it publicly, to ensure future court proceedings are not prejudiced in any way.”
He said the Met Police have been working closely with parliament’s security team and the Home Office to review security for MPs in the wake of the stabbing and police forces across the country have been working with their local MPs on specific arrangements.
The 69-year-old MP had represented Southend West for a period of 38 years and had first entered parliament in the year 1983, and leaves behind his wife Julia and their five children.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Sir David as “one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics” and paid tribute to his “outstanding” campaigning work on endometriosis, animal cruelty and fuel poverty.
This comes after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has insisted that there will not be another nationwide lockdown following an NHS leader warning the Prime Minister that ‘Plan B’ Covid restrictions must be enforced immediately in order to prevent the country from “stumbling into a winter crisis”.
“David was a man who believed passionately in this country and its future,” Mr Johnson said. “We’ve lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described a “dark and shocking day” as he urged people to “come together in response to these horrendous events”.
Sir David sat on a number of House of Commons committees during his time within Westminster and also sponsored many parliamentary bills, many of which focused on his keen interest in animal welfare, as well as his ambition to eliminate fuel poverty in the country.
From a humble background, he was raised a Catholic within London’s East End.
