Just In: UK Police Speak Out as Former Lawmaker Widdecombe Assassinated
- Anne Widdecombe was reportedly assassinated in a "targeted attack" and detectives are still working to understand the motive
- Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Thursday, July 9, with serious injuries believed to have been sustained in an attack that police say occurred the previous day
- In the UK, incidents suspected to have a political motive are officially classified as either terrorism or politically or religiously motivated hate crimes
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering world news and global affairs.
London, United Kingdom - Former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe was killed in a “targeted attack,” though the motivation is still under investigation, British counterterror police said Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and terror crimes remains in custody on an extended detention warrant under the Terrorism Act that allows police to question him for up to another week.
Source: AFP
“It is clear that this was a targeted attack,” Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing told reporters. “We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack.”
The death of Widdecombe, 78, a former member of Parliament, shocked the British political establishment, where she was long known for blunt-spoken socially conservative views opposing the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.
Police probe Widdecombe killing
Counterterror police took over the investigation Monday, July 13, after new evidence was discovered. Devon and Cornwall Police have been criticised for originally saying the killing was not believed to be a terror-related crime and there was nothing to suggest it was politically motivated.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez defended her agency Tuesday, July 14, saying new information often changes the nature of a fast-paced investigation.
Police believe Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday, July 8, just past noon. She failed to show up for a scheduled TV interview about an hour later and was found dead the next day in her isolated rural home in a village in southwest England.
Police did not disclose a cause of death, saying only that she had sustained “serious injuries.” Taylor called it a “brutal attack on a 78-year-old lady in her own home.”
The suspect was arrested Saturday, July 11, in South Yorkshire county in northern England, more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where Widdecombe died.
Police have conducted extensive searches at his home and Taylor said they found evidence of planning, but he declined to provide details.
The man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder, but additional evidence found while he was in custody led police to rearrest him on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
The suspect has not been named because he has not been charged.
Who was Ann Widdecombe?
Widdecombe was in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving in roles including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.
She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Source: Twitter
She later joined the Brexit Party, briefly serving as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK party, often appearing in the media as a spokesperson.
The killing renewed concerns for politicians about security, which was tightened in the past decade after the murders of two serving members of Parliament. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.
Read more world news
- UK reports possible Hantavirus case linked to cruise ship on Tristan da Cunha
- Ted Turner, founder of CNN dies at age 87
UK lists 2026 visitor visa documents
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the UK government updated its official guidance on supporting documents required for a visitor visa application.
Applicants must show proof of genuine visitor intent, sufficient funds, and home country ties, with additional requirements depending on the purpose of the visit.
Children, business travellers, medical visitors, and those attending weddings each face separate document requirements under the UK visitor visa rules.
Source: Legit.ng
Ridwan Adeola Yusuf (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content writer with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.
The Associated Press (AP) The Associated Press (AP) is a not-for-profit news agency. The AP operates approximately 240 news bureaus across nearly 100 countries, producing content in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
