MP Sir David Amess stabbed to death in church
Conservative politician Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed multiple times as he was meeting with constituents.
Tory MP Sir David Amess has tragically died after being stabbed multiple times after meeting with constituents in Essex.
The Sun reports that armed police swooped on the church in Leigh-on-Sea after the minister, who represents Southend West in Essex, was stabbed.
A man is understood to have walked into Belfairs Methodist Church and knifed the 69-year-old multiple times.
My next constituency surgery will be taking place on Friday 15th October at Belfairs Methodist Church, 251 Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4NG.
— Sir David Amess MP (@amessd_southend) October 12, 2021
To book an appointment please email amessd@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 3452 pic.twitter.com/aHhxWPrXXi
Police confirmed that the father-of-five had passed away and that a 25-year-old suspect has been arrested and said they are not looking for anyone else.
A police statement said: “We were called to reports of a stabbing in Eastwood Road North shortly after 12.05pm today (Friday 15 October).
“Officers were on scene shortly after, arrested a man and recovered a knife.
“He is currently in custody.
“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public.”
Essex Police said counter-terrorism officers would lead the investigation into Sir David’s death.
Speaking at a press conference, chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington said the force would “keep an open mind” about terrorism links.
He added: “The investigation is in its very early stages and is being lead by officers in the specialist counter terrorism command.
“It will be for specialists to determine whether this is a terrorism incident.”
His death tragically comes just months after he begged Boris Johnson to tackle the knife crime epidemic plaguing Britain.
There are just 20 days to go until @COP26. Last week I was pleased to show my support for a net zero future and speak to @CharitableMcs about decarbonising homes. pic.twitter.com/NBhIeX4zKL
— Sir David Amess MP (@amessd_southend) October 11, 2021
Horrified witnesses told how police “completely and utterly swamped” the scene.
One said: “I saw someone get taken out the building, put into the back of a police car.
“Apparently he was stabbed quite a few times.
“It’s very hard, it’s very distressing that’s for sure.”
Another said they saw undercover police cars race past as the bloodbath unfolded.
Anthony Finch told Sky News: “He is a good friend of my wife’s father, it’s pretty upsetting.
“It’s devastating to witness something like this. you read it in the news, you never experience it.
“It’s devastating and very sad. I feel for his family, I hope they are OK.”
Always pleased to show my support for a ban on trophy hunting imports. @CBTHunting#BanTrophyHunting#CPC21pic.twitter.com/y3rb1eSCgm
— Sir David Amess MP (@amessd_southend) October 5, 2021
MP was a family man
Boris Johnson led tributes to the slaughtered MP, saying “all our hearts are filled with shock and sadness”.
The PM’s wife Carrie was among the first to remember Sir David, saying: “Absolutely devastating news about Sir David Amess.
“He was hugely kind and good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent. This is so completely unjust. Thoughts are with his wife and their children.”
Stunned MPs have condemned the horror as the horrific news spread today.
My thoughts and concerns are with David Amess' family at such a shocking time.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 15, 2021
Nobody should be under threat doing their job.
Desperately sad news about Sir David Amess being murdered doing his job as an MP. Awful for his family and friends, this is a real blow to the democratic process.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 15, 2021
Judith Cannon, deputy chair of the local conservative club and friend of Sir David told Sky: “I just don’t believe it, how anyone could harm a kind man like David, I don’t know.
“I cannot understand how anyone could be so wicked to harm this man.
“We love him dearly. Nobody is perfect but he is as near perfect as it’s possible to be.”
This is the most devastating, horrific & tragic news. David Amess was a kind & thoroughly decent man - & he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet. Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today. Right now, my heart goes out to David’s family
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 15, 2021
For those who didn’t know Sir David Amess, this will give you a measure of the man. I’d played a small part in helping him get 200 children with learning disabilities to play the â¦@RoyalAlbertHallâ©. This is the video I filmed on the night of his thank you speech. pic.twitter.com/aF7SCiPd3k
— Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt) October 15, 2021
Councillor John Lamb described Sir David as as an “amicable” family man, who recently posted a photo with four of his children at his daughter’s wedding.
He said: “He’s a family man, he’s got four daughters and a son.
And another one bites the dust! pic.twitter.com/w3SCDDAa8v
— Sir David Amess MP (@amessd_southend) August 24, 2021
“He’s always trying to help people and especially refugees he’s tried to help. He’s a very amicable person and he does stick by his guns, he says what he believes and he sticks by it.”
David Amess was one of the very best. He really was. He was kind, compassionate, and loved animals. Here he is with Vivienne.ðŸ¾
— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) October 15, 2021
Her human will never be coming home again.😔
RIP pic.twitter.com/Ei1QPWs61U
History of violent attacks on MPs
A series of MPs have been attacked - and even murdered - while carrying out their constituency work.
Amess is the ninth MP to be murdered in the UK and sixth since World War Two.
Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in June 2016 by right wing fanatic Thomas Mair as she was on her way to a meeting of constituents in Batley and Spen.Her murder, which came just days before the EU referendum, sparked a national outcry and prompted politicians to massively ramp up their security.
Mair was jailed for life for the attack.
The Jo Cox Foundation is horrified to hear the news of the attack on Sir David Amess MP. We are thinking of him, his family and loved ones at this distressing time.
— The Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) October 15, 2021
In 2010 Labour MP Stephen Timms was stabbed by a woman who claimed she was seeking revenge for his support of the Iraq War at his constituency surgery in east London.
His attacker, Roshonara Choudhry, 21 a radicalised student, stabbed Mr Timms twice in the stomach before his assistant managed to drag her off.
The surgeon who operated on him described the injuries he suffered as “potentially life-threatening”.
Lib Dem MP Nigel Jones was stabbed and his assistant, Andy Pennington, murdered, when a man brandishing a sword burst into his constituency and attacked him in 2000.
Attacker Robert Ashman spent 8 years in a secure hospital for the attack.
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