UK parliament to pay tribute to David Amess in parliament
‘What really defined him is that even when he disagreed with people, there was a generosity of spirit,’ Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said
18 October 2021 - 10:44
byMichael Holden
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
A candle and a portrait of British MP David Amess, who was stabbed to death during a meeting with constituents, at the church of St Michael’s and all Angels, in Leigh-on-Sea, Britain, on October 17 2021. Picture: REUTERS/CHRIS RADBURN
London — Britain pays tribute on Monday to David Amess, the veteran legislator stabbed to death while meeting constituency voters, as police questioned a 25-year-old man for the murder which they are treating as a potential terrorism incident.
Amess was knifed repeatedly at a church on Friday in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London. At the scene, armed police arrested the son of a former media adviser to a former prime minister of Somalia, and he remains in custody.
The late legislator's killing shocked colleagues and they will gather at parliament later on Monday where usual business will be replaced by tributes led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“What really defined him is that even when he disagreed with people, there was a generosity of spirit,” Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News. “We'll miss him. He was very, very kind, generous with his time and advice.”
The murder of Amess, the second British legislator to be killed in five years, has prompted questions about politicians' safety and what action should be taken to address the growing problem of online abuse directed at them.
Detectives are quizzing suspect Ali Harbi Ali, a British national, under counter-terrorism laws, looking at a possible motivation linked to Islamist extremism. Officers are also searching a number of properties in and around London.
Ali had been referred to the anti-radicalisation programme known as Prevent, but was not of formal interest to the domestic security agency MI5.
Amess was also chair of the cross-party committee which looked to foster good ties between Britain and Qatar, and the Times newspaper said detectives were also looking at this link. Amess had been on a visit to Qatar last week.
Police have previously warned about the danger the Covid-19 pandemic posed in terms of radicalisation as vulnerable people spent more time online, potentially exposing them to extremist material.
“There is certainly an element of more people who are at risk, vulnerable, or at risk of radicalisation would have been spending more time online,” Raab said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
UK parliament to pay tribute to David Amess in parliament
‘What really defined him is that even when he disagreed with people, there was a generosity of spirit,’ Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said
London — Britain pays tribute on Monday to David Amess, the veteran legislator stabbed to death while meeting constituency voters, as police questioned a 25-year-old man for the murder which they are treating as a potential terrorism incident.
Amess was knifed repeatedly at a church on Friday in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London. At the scene, armed police arrested the son of a former media adviser to a former prime minister of Somalia, and he remains in custody.
The late legislator's killing shocked colleagues and they will gather at parliament later on Monday where usual business will be replaced by tributes led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“What really defined him is that even when he disagreed with people, there was a generosity of spirit,” Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News. “We'll miss him. He was very, very kind, generous with his time and advice.”
The murder of Amess, the second British legislator to be killed in five years, has prompted questions about politicians' safety and what action should be taken to address the growing problem of online abuse directed at them.
Detectives are quizzing suspect Ali Harbi Ali, a British national, under counter-terrorism laws, looking at a possible motivation linked to Islamist extremism. Officers are also searching a number of properties in and around London.
Ali had been referred to the anti-radicalisation programme known as Prevent, but was not of formal interest to the domestic security agency MI5.
Amess was also chair of the cross-party committee which looked to foster good ties between Britain and Qatar, and the Times newspaper said detectives were also looking at this link. Amess had been on a visit to Qatar last week.
Police have previously warned about the danger the Covid-19 pandemic posed in terms of radicalisation as vulnerable people spent more time online, potentially exposing them to extremist material.
“There is certainly an element of more people who are at risk, vulnerable, or at risk of radicalisation would have been spending more time online,” Raab said.
Reuters
British MP stabbed to death during meeting with constituents
Cressida Dick to continue as London police chief for further two years
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Minute silence after three stabbed to death in UK terror attack
UK police say London Bridge attack ‘is a terrorist incident’
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.