Boris Johnson slams ‘evil’ killing of British MP Sir David Amess

Boris Johnson has vowed that “we will never allow those who commit acts of evil to triumph over the democracy” in the wake of the stabbing death of a British MP.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday local time led tributes to veteran Conservative MP David Amess, who was stabbed to death while meeting constituents, as police probed whether a suspect arrested was motivated by Islamist extremism.

The attack was the second killing of a UK politician in five years and has stoked fears for the safety of elected representatives, as well as calls for an end to divisive partisan rhetoric that has increased since the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Boris Johnson speaks to members of parliament as they hear tributes in memory of their killed colleague David Amess. Picture: AFP

“And we will never allow those who commit acts of evil to triumph over the democracy and the parliament that to Sir David Amess, meant so much,” he added.

Mr Amess, who was killed in a church hall on Friday, was one of Britain’s longest-serving and most respected MPs. He campaigned on a range of causes, including obtaining city status for the town of Southend, which he represented.

The Queen has now formally granted the request, Mr Johnson said to cheers. Earlier, Mr Amess’ widow Julia and other members of his family visited the scene of the attack in Leigh-on-Sea, near Southend, wiping away tears as she reviewed a sea of floral tributes.

On Sunday, his family said they were “absolutely broken” by his death and made a plea for tolerance.

Boris Johnson and Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel listen to tributes to murdered British MP David Amess. Picture: AFP

‘STOP DEHUMANISING OPPONENTS’

Several MPs have spoken out about the dangers they have faced from the public, including Labour’s Chris Bryant who said he notified police after receiving a death threat on Saturday.

Former foreign secretary Dominic Raab said he had had at least three threats to “life and limb” in the past two years, including a warning he would have acid thrown at him.

Bryant attributed the rise in abuse to Brexit and anti-vaccine protests, while the widower of Labour MP Jo Cox, killed by a far-right extremist in 2016, said the “celebration of political segregation” needed to stop.

British Conservative MP Sir David Amess was brutally killed. Picture: AFP

“We have to stop dehumanising our opponents,” Brendan Cox told Times Radio. Police have until Friday to detain and question a 25-year-old man, who was arrested at the scene of the stabbing.

Detectives have declared the killing a terrorist incident and said they were investigating “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism”.

Counter-terror officers from London’s Metropolitan police are leading the probe. In their last update late Saturday the force said they were searching three addresses in the capital.

British media, citing unnamed official sources, have identified the suspect as Ali Harbi Ali, a British national of Somali descent.

Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer attend a service of prayer and remembrance in honour of slain British politician David Amess. Picture: AFP

Before the attack, the suspect had been referred to Prevent, the official counterterrorist scheme for those thought to be at risk of radicalisation, according to reports.

His father is a former prime ministerial adviser in Somalia, his uncle is the East African country’s ambassador to China, while his aunt runs a security think tank in the war-ravaged capital Mogadishu, the reports added.

The Times said Monday that police were examining the close ties between Amess and Qatar, given the MP was chairman of a parliamentary group on the Gulf state and returned from his latest visit there earlier this month.

However, other newspapers reported Amess was not specifically targeted but picked randomly as part of a plot to kill any national politician after the suspect was allegedly self-radicalised at home during pandemic lockdowns.

Patel has ordered a review of security measures for parliamentarians and vowed “to close any gaps” in security provision.

Police and parliamentary authorities were implementing “immediate changes and measures that are actively being put in place, and discussed with MPs,” she said Sunday.

The order of service as MPs and peers attend a service to honour Sir David Amess at St Margaret's church in London. Picture: AFP

FAMILY ‘BROKEN’ BY MP’S DEATH

The family of murdered British MP Sir David Amess said they have been left “completely broken” by his death, as police label the attack as a terrorist incident.

The Metropolitan Police said its preliminary findings had revealed “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism”.

Police arrested Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old British national with Somali heritage, at the scene on suspicion of murder and recovered a knife.

“This was a difficult incident, but our officers and paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service worked extremely hard to save Sir David,” Harrington said.

A woman carries a photograph of murdered MP David Amess walks past a row of images outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Picture: Getty Images

Flags were lowered to half-mast in Westminster as tributes were paid to Amess, whose death came five years after the murder of Labour Party MP Jo Cox by a far-right extremist.

The family of Sir David said on Sunday they were “completely broken” by his death, but that hatred had to be set aside as they made a plea for ”togetherness”.

“We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man,” the bereaved family said in a statement, while calling on people to set aside their differences and ”work towards togetherness”.

According to The Sun, witnesses said he appeared “dead behind the eyes” after the attack.

His alleged killer travelled 80 kilometres by train to murder him – and apparently had told the MP’s staff that he had recently moved to the area.

Security sources told The Mail on Sunday that Ali planned his murderous attack more than a week in advance.

Counter-terror cops believe he boarded a service in London to carry out the lone wolf attack.

He is believed to have waived his right to silence on arrest and is said to have admitted fatally stabbing dad-of-five Sir David 17 times at his constituency surgery at a church hall in Leigh-on-Sea.

Counter-terrorism officers are investigating the murder of Sir David Amess, Conservative MP, who was stabbed to death by a man in his twenties who was arrested at the scene. Picture: Getty Images

The suspect had not been on MI5’s “subject of interest” list but had been referred to the early stages of the UK government’s prevent anti-terror scheme.

Police and security services are examining the theory he was ­radicalised online during lockdown. They believe the suspect may have been inspired by al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda offshoot operating in Somalia and Kenya.

Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington confirmed that national counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation after the horror was formally declared as a terror attack.

Amess, who represented Southend West in Essex, was attacked just after midday at Belfairs Methodist Church.

Paramedics frantically battled but failed to save the stricken MP while horrified constituents watched as the suspect was led away from the bloodbath.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday evening, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said the force will “keep an open mind” in their probe.

KILLER BOOKED APPOINTMENT WITH MP

Raids were carried out over the weekend t as a far-ranging investigation continues.

It’s understood Sir David’s killer had booked an appointment to see the MP before stabbing him 17 times.

He then sat quietly in the church beside the politician waiting for police to arrive, it’s reported by The Sun.

Witness Anthony Finch said the suspect was “quiet” as he was arrested.

“He was wearing jeans and a white top and was completely quiet,” he said.

“He was in his mid-20s and appeared to be getting into the police car willingly. He was compliant.”

John Lamb, councillor for neighbouring West Leigh, said Sir David was with two female members of staff when a man “literally got a knife out and just began stabbing him”.

Mr Lamb told The Sun that the two women, one of whom is PA Julie Cushion, were heartbroken.

He said: “They are devastated. I’ve no idea of the motive. He had no known enemies.

“I’m told the man was waiting calmly to be seen. It’s horrendous. So awful.”

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, and Boris Johnson, Prime Minister lay flowers at Belfairs Methodist Church on October 16, 2021 in Leigh-on-Sea, United Kingdom. Picture: Getty

It comes as the stabbing was declared a terrorist incident by police, as MPs pressed for tougher security.

This is the second killing of a UK politician while meeting constituents in just over five years.

A veteran Conservative MP, Amess was talking with voters at a church in the small town of Leigh-on-Sea east of London when he was stabbed to death by the 25-year-old suspect with “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism” according to police and MI5.

Two female staff at the church watched as the suspect walked up to the 69-year-old Tory then pulled out a blade and carried out the attack.

A vigil is held at Saint Peter's Catholic Church, following the stabbing of UK Conservative MP Sir David Amess. Picture: Getty

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the scene to pay his respects on Saturday, laying floral wreaths outside the church with the leader of the opposition, Labour leader Keir Starmer in a rare show of unity, along with the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Flowers and a balloon left at the scene following the stabbing of Sir David Amess as he met with constituents at a surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, England. Picture: Getty Images

“I think all our hearts are full of shock and sadness today at the loss of Sir David Amess MP, who was killed in his constituency surgery, in a church, after almost 40 years of continuous service to the people of Essex and the whole of the United Kingdom,” Johnson said.

Home Secretary Patel on Friday ordered police across the country to review security arrangements for all 650 MPs.

Sir Amess is the second MP to be murdered in five years — following Labour’s Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox — raising further concerns about ­security for politicians.

House of Commons Speaker Hoyle promised no “knee-jerk reactions” but told Sky News: “We will take further measures if we need to”.

Well-wishers lay floral tributes at the scene of the fatal stabbing of Conservative British politician David Amess, at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. Picture: AFP

Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP who tried to save a stabbed police officer during a 2017 terror attack near the Houses of Parliament, on Twitter urged “a temporary pause in face-to-face meetings” until the security review is complete.

A vigil is held at Saint Peter's Catholic Church following the stabbing of Sir David Amess. Picture: Getty Images

A specialist police unit set up to investigate threats against MPs in the aftermath said 678 crimes against politicians were reported between 2016 and 2020.

The Union Flag flies at half mast in Downing St in London after the stabbing death of Sir David Amess. Picture: Getty Images

Separate figures indicated a sharp rise in reports since 2018, including three threats to kill.

Ex-MP Anna Soubry, who quit the Conservative party because of her opposition to Brexit, has spoken of being sent bullets during an intimidation campaign that also targeted her family.

Police forensics officers work at the scene of a stabbing incident at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, a district of Southend-on-Sea, in southeast England. Picture: AFP

Police at the scene where UK Conservative MP Sir David Amess was stabbed to death in Leigh-on-Sea, England. Picture: Getty Images

“These increasing attacks have rather spoiled the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians,” he said.

MPs have had to install security cameras and only meet constituents by appointment, he added.

MPs’ staff have also spoken of bearing the brunt of abuse.

“I would get in and all I would do is go on Facebook and report death threats and delete them,” said Jade Botterill, who worked for senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper from 2013 to 2019.

“I reckon I reported over 1,000 death threats,” she said, adding it caused her sleepless nights and fears she would be attacked.

Brexit had been a turning point for staff working in constituency offices while an MP was in parliament were often on the frontline of daily public anger, she added.