Reports: UK lawmaker stabbed while meeting constituents

LONDON – British constabulary and media reports said that a Conservative lawmaker was stabbed during a gathering with constituents successful eastbound England connected Friday. A antheral has been arrested.

The Essex Police unit said officers were called to reports of a stabbing successful Leigh-on-Sea conscionable aft noon Friday. It said “a antheral was arrested and a weapon recovered.

“We are not looking for anyone other successful transportation with the incidental and bash not judge determination is an ongoing menace to the wider public," constabulary said.

Sky News and others said Conservative lawmaker David Amess was attacked during a regular gathering with constituents astatine Belfairs Methodist Church successful a residential country of successful Leigh-on-Sea, a seaside municipality eastbound of London.

Aerial footage showed respective ambulances and an aerial ambulance was waiting adjacent to the church.

John Lamb, a section councilor, said Amess had not been taken to infirmary much than 2 hours aft the onslaught and the concern was “extremely serious.”

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Amess’ London bureau confirmed Friday that constabulary and ambulance had been called, but had nary different details.

Amess, 69, has been a subordinate of Parliament for Southend West, which includes Leigh-on-Sea, since 1997, but has been a lawmaker since 1983.

Politicians from crossed the governmental spectrum expressed shock. Labour Party person Keir Starmer tweeted that it was “Horrific and profoundly shocking news. Thinking of David, his household and his staff.”

Former Prime Minister David Cameron, a Conservative, tweeted: “Very alarming and worrying quality reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea. My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family.”

Violence against British politicians is rare, but successful June 2016 Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox was fatally stabbed and changeable successful her bluish England constituency. A far-right extremist was convicted of her murder.

Cox's widower, Brendan Cox, tweeted that “Attacking our elected representatives is an onslaught connected ideology itself. There is nary excuse, nary justification. It is arsenic cowardly arsenic it gets.”

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British lawmakers are protected by equipped constabulary erstwhile they are wrong Parliament, but person nary specified extortion successful their constituencies.

Two different British lawmakers person been attacked this period during their “surgeries,” regular meetings wherever constituents tin contiguous concerns and complaints.

Labour legislator Stephen Timms was stabbed successful the tummy and injured successful May 2010 by a pistillate pupil radicalized by online sermons from an al-Qaida-linked preacher.

In 2000, Liberal Democrat lawmaker Nigel Jones and his adjutant Andrew Pennington were attacked by a antheral wielding a sword during specified a meeting. Pennington was killed and Jones injured successful the onslaught successful Cheltenham, England.

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