Police Arrest 28-Year-Old in Ann Widdecombe Murder, Rule Out Political Motive
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 12
Police Arrest 28-Year-Old in Ann Widdecombe Murder, Rule Out Political Motive
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 12
Summary
A 28-year-old white British man was arrested in Rotherham on Saturday night over the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe, and Devon and Cornwall Police said they are not seeking anyone else.
Police said there is nothing to suggest the attack on the 78-year-old former MP was politically motivated or terrorism-related, though officers remain open-minded on motive and see no wider public threat.
Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, with serious injuries, and investigators believe she had been attacked almost 24 hours earlier.
More than 120 reports have come in after a public appeal, a heightened police presence will remain locally, and officers urged the public not to speculate as the family receives specialist support.
The arrest followed the release of a 26-year-old man detained on Friday, as tributes from Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage underscored Widdecombe's prominence across British politics.