UK authorities said the fatal stabbing of UK lawmaker David Amess was a terrorist act.
On Thursday night, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement, saying: “The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism.”
Investigators believe the suspect acted alone. Therefore, they are not looking for someone else in connection with the incident.
However, inquiries to define the attacks’ circumstances are still ongoing, anti-terrorism police said in the statement.
Sir David Amess, an MP for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party, died after being stabbed multiple times during a constituency meeting in Essex, east London.
On Friday, local media reported that the 69-year-old MP was attacked by a man who walked into a meeting with his electoral district’s voters at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea.
Essex Police said the man, who represented Southend West, had been treated by emergency services but died at the scene.
“A 25-year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered,” police officers said. The Press Association reported that the man suspected of murdering Amess was believed to be a British national of Somali heritage.
Agents recovered a knife from the crime scene. Now, the UK’s Counter-Terrorism Command has been appointed to lead the investigation.
Sir David’s predecessors and other MPs joined the prime minister in expressing their shock and concern. Others questioned the safety of the lawmakers.
Also, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Catherine said in a statement: “We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Sir David Amess, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”
The fatal incident was another grim moment in recent UK political history, where another sitting legislator was assassinated five years ago. Labor MP Jo Cox was stabbed and shot by a man with extreme far-right views outside a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire, where she was set to hold constituency surgery in June 2016.
