British authorities have escalated the investigation into the death of former politician Ann Widdecombe, officially treating the case as an act of terrorism. Counter Terrorism Policing South East confirmed on Monday that a 28-year-old man, who was initially detained on suspicion of murder, has been rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Laurence Taylor, the Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that new evidence has emerged, prompting the counter-terrorism unit to take charge of the inquiry. Taylor noted that investigators are currently pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to determine the specific motivation behind the attack.
The 78-year-old Widdecombe was discovered dead last week at her isolated residence in a village in southwest England. While police have not released an official cause of death, they confirmed she had sustained serious injuries. The suspect, whose identity remains withheld as he has not been formally charged, was apprehended Saturday in South Yorkshire, located over 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the Haytor village site near Dartmoor National Park where the victim was found on Thursday. Investigators believe the attack occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, after concerns were raised when Widdecombe missed a scheduled television appearance that afternoon.
Widdecombe was a long-standing figure in British politics, serving as a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. During her career, she held various government positions, including prisons minister under Prime Minister John Major. Known for her conservative stance on issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, she also gained broader public recognition through appearances on reality television programs like "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Celebrity Big Brother." Following her parliamentary career, she was associated with the Brexit Party and, more recently, the anti-immigration Reform UK party. Despite her reputation for robust political debate, colleagues have frequently described her as a person of kindness and humor.
