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Former politician and TV personality Ann Widdecombe was killed in ‘targeted attack,’ U.K. police say
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Ann Widdecombe, former British politician and reality TV contestant, was killed in a targeted attack, with counterterrorism police investigating the motivation behind the assault.
- A 28-year-old man remains in custody under the Terrorism Act, arrested on suspicion of murder and terror-related crimes, with evidence suggesting planning for the attack.
- Widdecombe, known for her socially conservative views and political career spanning from 1987 to 2010, was found dead in her rural home in southwest England after missing a scheduled TV interview.
- The investigation was initially handled by Devon and Cornwall Police but was taken over by counterterrorism units following new evidence, amid criticism of the original assessment that the killing was not terror-related.
- The killing has raised renewed concerns about the security of politicians in the UK, recalling previous attacks on MPs Jo Cox in 2016 and David Amess in 2021.
