UK police revealed that Anne Widdecombe, a former minister found dead last week, was murdered in a "targeted" attack. They have not yet confirmed whether it was an act of terrorism or connected to any group.
On Tuesday, 14 Jul 2026 GMT+7, UK police disclosed that Anne Widdecombe, 78, former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson, died from a "targeted" murder inside her home in Devon.
"It is clear this was a targeted attack. We are currently working to understand the scope of planning or preparation involved, as well as the motives behind this assault," said Laurence Taylor, Assistant Chief Constable and head of counter-terrorism police, at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Widdecombe's body was found on 9 Jul 2026 GMT+7, showing severe injuries from the assault, which police believe occurred the day before. On Saturday (11 Jul), officers arrested a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, detaining him again on Monday on suspicion of involvement in terrorism preparation. Police can hold the suspect for up to seven days.
Counter-terrorism police have now taken the lead in the investigation from local authorities due to new evidence. However, police stated the case has "not yet been officially declared a terrorist incident," with investigations running in parallel. They have not ruled out the possibility that other Reform UK politicians could also be targets.
Police are investigating motives, focusing on her recent appearances on Talk TV and a radio interview with TWR-UK via video link that took place just 20 minutes before the estimated time of the attack. During the interview, she expressed support for Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons that the suspect was not on the government’s terrorism prevention watchlist. Police have urged the public to avoid speculating about the suspect’s motives or beliefs and to allow forensic and in-depth investigations to proceed.
Widdecombe, aged 78, was a key member of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party, serving as the party’s spokesperson on immigration and justice matters until her death.
Earlier in her political career from 1987 to 2010, she was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone and held significant government roles, including Shadow Home Secretary in 1999, before moving into television.
Widdecombe was known for her opposition to abortion and resistance to equalizing the Age of Consent between same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.
This case has heightened concerns about the safety of UK politicians, as two sitting MPs have been murdered in the past decade.
In 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death by a Nazi sympathizer during the Brexit campaign, and in 2021, Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed by a man inspired by ISIS.
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Source:bbc