Detectives investigating the death of veteran politician Ann Widdecombe have refused to rule out the involvement of foreign state actors in her killing.
Police said on Tuesday it had become “clear” that the 78-year-old had been killed in a “targeted attack” but did not expand on the possible motivation behind it.
When asked if foreign state interference could be ruled out, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, told reporters at a briefing at Scotland Yard: “I don't want to rule anything out at this stage.”
He said the investigation came amid a backdrop of “unprecedented demands” on counterterrorism policing and a “complex and increased threat picture”.
He also said that the question of whether a TV appearance might have motivated her killing, and whether the suspect was targeting other Reform UK figures were both lines of inquiry.
Amid speculation, on Tuesday night, The Guardian reported that investigators were considering whether left-wing, anarchist and single-issue terrorism played a role in the suspect’s alleged motivation.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, last Thursday.
A 28-year-old white British man remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism, as well as on suspicion of murder. Mr Taylor said detectives had been granted a warrant of further detention, allowing questioning for up to seven days after his arrest under the Terrorism Act.
Counterterrorism police are now in charge of the case after new evidence came to light, taking over from Devon and Cornwall Police, which launched a murder investigation after Widdecombe’s death.
When asked if counterterror forces could reassure the public and rule out foreign state interference, Mr Taylor said: "I don't want to rule anything out at this stage, and we're retaining an open mind," he said. "We have a very experienced network of individuals working with security partners, and we will continue to do so, both in terms of progressing this investigation and exploring wider threats across the UK, so that we can respond to those as appropriate."
Mr Taylor defended Devon and Cornwall Police for initially saying there was nothing to suggest a political motivation for the Reform UK spokeswoman’s murder. Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, said on Tuesday she was confident the force had “provided a substantial and professional response” to the murder.
Mr Taylor told reporters: “It is clear that this was a targeted attack.
“We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack. I wouldn’t want to comment on what that motivation was.”
He added the force “are aware that there has been some preparation and planning” but refused to go into details of the extent of that.
Mr Taylor said the question of whether a TV appearance might have motivated her killing is a “line of inquiry”.
Widdecombe spoke to Mark Dolan by video-link on Talk TV just after 8am on Wednesday, and police believe she was attacked at about 12.30pm the same day. Her final interview, believed to have taken place some 20 minutes before she died was with Christian radio staton TWR, which has not been broadcast.
CCTV footage seen byThe Telegraph appeared to show a man leaving an address linked to the suspect in Rotherham, South Yorkshire at around 7am on Wednesday. It is approximately 260 miles and around a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Rotherham to Widdecombe’s address.
Asked if police were probing whether the suspect was targeting other Reform UK figures, Mr Taylor said: “So clearly, part of our responsibility when investigating offences of this nature is to assure ourselves and therefore the public and others of any extant of threat.
“That will form a line of investigation to ensure that we are putting all appropriate measures in place to mitigate any threat, should it become apparent. I’m not saying there is or there isn’t at this stage.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the row continued over protection for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after home secretary Shabana Mahmood offered a security meeting. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Jenrick criticised the government for not offering a security meeting earlier. Mr Farage refused a state-funded security package last year.
Incoming prime minister Andy Burnham said a “serious review” was needed into MPs’ security. Speaking to reporters outside the Commons, he said politics had “darkened” in the near decade since he was last in Westminster and protections may need to be “increased further.”
