Birstall:
British Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP) Jo Cox was shot
and stabbed multiple times in Birstall on Thursday, leading to her eventual
death an hour later.
West
Yorkshire Police said on Thursday a 52-year-old man had been arrested
following the incident, which prompted the suspension of campaigning for next
week’s referendum on the country’s EU membership.
The attack
took place in Birstall, near the city of Leeds. It happened outside the library
where she regularly held meetings with her constituents.
Dee
Collins, acting chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Jo was
attacked by a man who inflicted serious and sadly, ultimately fatal injuries.”
One witness
told the Press Association that Cox had intervened in a scuffle between two
men, one of whom pulled a gun from a bag and then fired twice.
“She was
taken by air ambulance from Birstall library near Leeds. Witnesses say she was
shot and stabbed and taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. Officers
said weapons, including a firearm, had been recovered from the scene. “This was
a localised incident, albeit one which has a wider impact,” West Yorkshire
Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson told reporters.
The news of
Cox’s death caused deep shock across Britain.
Prime
Minister David Cameron said the killing of 41-year-old Cox, who was a mother of
two, was a tragedy. “We have lost a great star,” Cameron said in a statement.
“She was a great campaigning MP with huge compassion, with a big heart. It is
dreadful, dreadful news.”
No comments:
Post a Comment