Police investigating the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe are looking at whether the suspect was targeting âother Reform politiciansâ.
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the political veteran was the victim of a âtargeted attackâ and confirmed officers are still looking into any âmotivationâ behind the 78-year-oldâs death.
Police believe the former Tory minister â latterly Reformâs justice and immigration spokesman â was killed in her remote Dartmoor home on Wednesday lunchtime.
A 28-year-old remains in custody on suspicion of murder and terror offences.
Mr Taylor said this afternoon: âIt is clear that this was a targeted attack.
âI donât want to comment further on that motivation or preparation at this stage of our inquiries.â
He added:Â âIn terms of the preparation and planning, we are aware that there has been some preparation and planning. I donât want to go into the details of the extent of that at this stage.â
Ann Widdecombe, a former MEP and Tory minister, was killed on Wednesday. Pictured, Ms Widdecombe appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday before her death
The suspect was captured on CCTV leaving his property shortly before 8am on Wednesday with what appears to be a pole in the pocket of his shorts
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Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention meaning the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act, Mr Taylor added.
âIt is important to remember that this is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her home.â
Asked by reporters whether the police investigation was looking at whether the suspect was targeting âother Reform politiciansâ, Assistant Commissioner Taylor said: âSo 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.
âIâm not saying there is or there isnât at this stage.â
He added: âOf course that will be a line of inquiry.â
Counter Terrorism Police believe the victimâs appearance on TalkTV at 8am the day of the murder is also a key line of inquiry, raising questions about when the suspect allegedly travelled from Rotherham to carry out the attack.
Mr Taylor added: âWeâre exploring all lines of inquiry, and that is one of the lines of inquiry that weâll be exploring.â
The Mail has learned officers investigating have already seized around eight hours of CCTV footage from a petrol station not far from Exeter, captured on Wednesday.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage placed flowers near the scene at the weekend
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez hit back at criticism after her officers spent days insisting the Tory former ministerâs death had no link to terrorism.
But counter-terror officers were called in yesterday to take over from local detectives as the investigation escalated.
It prompted claims from Reform UK that police misled the public over the death of the partyâs immigration and justice spokesman at her home on Dartmoor last Wednesday.
In a robust statement today, Ms Hernandez said: âThereâs been some commentary about the way Devon and Cornwall police have communicated during the early stages of this case.
âBut, as the Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood) said yesterday, it is not unusual that in a fast-paced investigation, more information comes to light that changes the nature or the character of what the police are dealing with.â
Counter-terror officers took over running the investigation on Monday following the discovery of the former MPâs body at her home on Dartmoor on Thursday.
Home Secretary Ms Mahmood confirmed yesterday that the British white suspect arrested on suspicion of murder and terror offences, who the Mail is not naming for legal reasons, was not known to the Governmentâs deradicalisation programme, Prevent.
Devon and Cornwall Police has faced significant criticism over its initial handling of the inquiry and the fact it was five days in before counter terror officers took over.
Local officers waited more than 24 hours to announce a murder investigation, before Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said on Friday night: âThe incident is not being treated as terrorismâ, and later said there was no evidence to suggest the crime was politically motivated.
Devon and Cornwall Police also arrested a local labourer in error on Friday before detaining a 28-year-old suspect nearly 300 miles away in Rotherham, south Yorkshire, on Saturday night.
He remains in police custody.
The Mail has learnt that items of varying political ideology, including Russian material, have been found at the suspectâs home and on electronic devices.
In her statement, the Police and Crime Commissioner paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe âan exceptionally likeable characterâ.
A huge cordon remains in place near Ms Widdecombeâs remote home, but Ms Hernandez hinted at an imminent return to normality.
Floral tributes continue to grow near a police cordon in Haytor Vale, Dartmoor, where Ms Widdecombe was killed
âI am sure the impact of this major operation has meant that some people have had to wait longer than they would expect for routine services, or have not yet had their issues resolved.
âI have been assured officers and staff will be returning to business as usual over the coming days, which are also expected to be particularly busy with two final legs of the World Cup and the start of school holidays.â
Reform UK board member Gawain Towler led the initial criticism of the police, saying: âIn the past, theyâd have said all avenues of investigation are open but this time they tried to close out avenues of the investigation. In a time when trust in the police is at an all-time low, this just plays into that they are trying to massage public opinion.â
The killing has reignited fears about MPsâ safety following the murders of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.
