Overview
- Police say Ann Widdecombe was likely attacked at about 12:30pm on Wednesday and was found dead at her Haytor, Devon home at about 11:40am on Thursday.
- A 28‑year‑old white British man was arrested in Rotherham on Saturday and has been re‑arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; he remains in custody.
- Investigators are examining CCTV and witness reports that show a man placing a wooden pole into a red car at an address on Byrley Road in Rotherham and forensic teams are working at scenes in both Devon and Rotherham.
- Senior officers and the Home Secretary have urged the public not to speculate about motive while saying the suspect was not previously known to the Prevent programme and some Reform UK figures have been given extra security.
- The counter‑terrorism lead allows longer detention for questioning and specialist checks of devices and ideology as police pursue multiple lines of enquiry that could reshape whether the killing is treated as a terror offence or a different crime.