Police investigating the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe are looking at whether the suspect was targeting ‘other Reform politicians’.
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the political veteran was the victim of a ‘targeted attack’ and confirmed officers are still looking into any ‘motivation’ behind the 78-year-old’s death.
Police believe the former Tory minister – latterly Reform’s justice and immigration spokesman – was killed in her remote Dartmoor home on Wednesday lunchtime.
A 28-year-old remains in custody on suspicion of murder and terror offences.
Mr Taylor said this afternoon: ‘It is clear that this was a targeted attack.
‘We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack.
‘I don’t want to comment further on that motivation or preparation at this stage of our inquiries.’
He added: ‘In terms of the preparation and planning, we are aware that there has been some preparation and planning. I don’t want to go into the details of the extent of that at this stage.’
Ann Widdecombe, a former MEP and Tory minister, was killed on Wednesday. Pictured, Ms Widdecombe appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday before her death
The suspect was captured on CCTV leaving his property shortly before 8am on Wednesday with what appears to be a pole in the pocket of his shorts
Forensic officers were seen heading into the house in Rotherham after the arrest on Saturday
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Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention meaning the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act, Mr Taylor added.
He said: ‘There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations.
‘It is important to remember that this is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her home.’
Asked by reporters whether the police investigation was looking at whether the suspect was targeting ‘other Reform politicians’, Assistant Commissioner Taylor said: ‘So clearly, part of our responsibility when investigating offences of this nature is to assure ourselves and therefore the public and others of any extant of threat.
‘That will form a line of investigation to ensure that we are putting all appropriate measures in place to mitigate any threat, should it become apparent.
‘I’m not saying there is or there isn’t at this stage.’
He added: ‘Of course that will be a line of inquiry.’
Counter Terrorism Police believe the victim’s appearance on TalkTV at 8am the day of the murder is also a key line of inquiry, raising questions about when the suspect allegedly travelled from Rotherham to carry out the attack.
Mr Taylor added: ‘We’re exploring all lines of inquiry, and that is one of the lines of inquiry that we’ll be exploring.’
The Mail has learned officers investigating have already seized around eight hours of CCTV footage from a petrol station not far from Exeter, captured on Wednesday.
It came as the boss of Devon and Cornwall Police has defended her embattled force over the way it has handled the murder investigation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage placed flowers near the scene at the weekend
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez hit back at criticism after her officers spent days insisting the Tory former minister’s death had no link to terrorism.
But counter-terror officers were called in yesterday to take over from local detectives as the investigation escalated.
It prompted claims from Reform UK that police misled the public over the death of the party’s immigration and justice spokesman at her home on Dartmoor last Wednesday.
In a robust statement today, Ms Hernandez said: ‘There’s been some commentary about the way Devon and Cornwall police have communicated during the early stages of this case.
‘But, as the Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood) said yesterday, it is not unusual that in a fast-paced investigation, more information comes to light that changes the nature or the character of what the police are dealing with.’
Counter-terror officers took over running the investigation on Monday following the discovery of the former MP’s body at her home on Dartmoor on Thursday.
Home Secretary Ms Mahmood confirmed yesterday that the British white suspect arrested on suspicion of murder and terror offences, who the Mail is not naming for legal reasons, was not known to the Government’s deradicalisation programme, Prevent.
Devon and Cornwall Police has faced significant criticism over its initial handling of the inquiry and the fact it was five days in before counter terror officers took over.
Local officers waited more than 24 hours to announce a murder investigation, before Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said on Friday night: ‘The incident is not being treated as terrorism’, and later said there was no evidence to suggest the crime was politically motivated.
Devon and Cornwall Police also arrested a local labourer in error on Friday before detaining a 28-year-old suspect nearly 300 miles away in Rotherham, south Yorkshire, on Saturday night.
He remains in police custody.
The Mail has learnt that items of varying political ideology, including Russian material, have been found at the suspect’s home and on electronic devices.
In her statement, the Police and Crime Commissioner paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe ‘an exceptionally likeable character’.
A huge cordon remains in place near Ms Widdecombe’s remote home, but Ms Hernandez hinted at an imminent return to normality.
Floral tributes continue to grow near a police cordon in Haytor Vale, Dartmoor, where Ms Widdecombe was killed
She said: ‘When I visited the scene on Sunday, I was impressed by the efforts being made by the police to speak to residents and address their very understandable concerns.
‘I am sure the impact of this major operation has meant that some people have had to wait longer than they would expect for routine services, or have not yet had their issues resolved.
‘I have been assured officers and staff will be returning to business as usual over the coming days, which are also expected to be particularly busy with two final legs of the World Cup and the start of school holidays.’
Reform UK board member Gawain Towler led the initial criticism of the police, saying: ‘In the past, they’d have said all avenues of investigation are open but this time they tried to close out avenues of the investigation. In a time when trust in the police is at an all-time low, this just plays into that they are trying to massage public opinion.’
The killing has reignited fears about MPs’ safety following the murders of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.
