A 25 year old British man of Somali heritage by the name of Ali Harbi Ali has been arrested by police on suspicion of the murder of MP Sir David Amess. Harbi Ali. He is being held until Friday 22 October and questioned under the Terrorism Act.
Conservative MP Sir David who was 69-years-old was stabbed multiple times in Leigh-on-Sea has he held his weekly, has left behind four daughters and a son. Dir David had served as an MP since 1983. The knife has since been recovered from the scene of the crime.
This attack highlights the concern over the safety of MP’s and Labour MP Jo Cox was also murdered in June 2016. Security measures have increased since Sir David’s murder, home secretary Priti Patel recalled the moment when she heard the news of Sir David’s death during a cabinet meeting, “our world was shattered” she said. Priti Patel also emphasized that MP’s have access to security measures but needed to be more appropriate, “We’re here to serve, we’re here to be accessible to the British public.”
Feelings are mixed amongst MPs. Labour MP Diane Abbott said she prefers to meet constituents behind a screen as a precaution against possible future stabbing attacks. Whereas friend of Sir David, Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said his killing “shouldn’t change things in a way that stops us going about our democratic role”. In a dramatically different opinion he thinks, “There’s got to be some balance to this. I don’t have an answer. This is not the Britain I want, this is not the country that we’re used to.”
After Sir David’s death, sister of Mrs. Cox, Kim Leadbeater was asked to stand down as MP for Batley and Spen by her partner. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he was working “at pace” with the police and home secretary and police to find ways to improve safety for MPs.
The home secretary described Sir David as, “a man of the people, who was killed doing a job he loved”, as politicians and constituents, paid their tributes to Sir David. Priti Patel continued to say he, “was absolutely there for everyone, he was a much loved parliamentarian, to me he was a dear and loyal friend, but also he was a devoted husband and father”.
A candle lit vigil to mark Sir David’s life was held on Leigh-on Sea on Saturday night. Southend councilor Alan Dear gave a speech at the gather saying that Sir David was “a gentleman and a gentle man”.