MP – Muslims from Southend’s mosques call David Amess murder an ‘indefensible atrocity’ as MP’s grief-stricken relatives pay tribute to ‘great man’ and locals hold vigil as police quiz terror attack suspect, 25
- Priti Patel says politicians ‘cannot be cowed’ as MPs revealed they will be going ahead with planned surgeries
- Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer joined by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle
- All four dressed in black and carrying wreaths during surprise 9am visit to scene of Sir David Amess’ killing
- Sir David Amess was holding surgery when knifeman ran into church building and launched a frenzied attack
- The 69-year-old MP for Southend West was wounded up to 17 times, dying at the scene just before 3pm
- Counter-terrorism police and MI5 were probing whether the 25-year-old suspect had links to extremists
- The attack, which came five years after murder of MP Jo Cox, ignited row over protection of parliamentarians
Muslims from Southend’s mosques have called the murder of MP Sir David Amess an ‘indefensible atrocity’ as his relatives today joined hundreds of well-wishers in an emotional outpouring of grief.
Faith leaders said that the father-of-five was an ‘upstanding friend to our Muslim community’ and attended key events, including weddings, mosque openings and the launch of the town’s first Muslim Scout group.
In a statement published on the Essex Jamme Masjid website, on behalf of ‘all Southend mosques’, they said their thoughts and prayers were with Sir David’s family, friends and colleagues.
Steady streams of people – including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the leader of the Labour party Sir Keir Starmer – left flowers and written notes of support on a grass bank near Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, today.
On Friday afternoon, horrified constituents waiting to see the veteran MP at a surgery inside the church watched as a lone knifeman, believed to be an Islamic extremist, stabbed Sir David 17 times. It is believed the man waited patiently in the queue before launching the brutal attack.
As Sir David’s wife and children grieve privately at home, the MP’s extended family including cousins and second cousins left a note celebrating ‘a great man and member of our family’. Outside the murder scene, constituents recalled the work the ‘absolutely wonderful’ MP did in his community during his almost 40-year career.
Moira and Pat, cousins of Sir David, wrote: ‘Thinking of your lovely family. Can’t believe this has actually happened. Will always love you.’
Meanwhile, two vigils have been held. Constituents last night went to St Peters Church in Leigh-on-Sea to shed a tear at the shocking death of their beloved MP and on Saturday afternoon dozens of well-wishers lit candles and gathered to remember the life of Sir David outside the town’s Civic Centre.
The terror suspect – a 25-year-old Briton of Somali descent who lived in the Southend West area – was arrested on suspicion of murder as soon as police arrived on the scene five minutes after the attack. It is believed the man was previously referred to an anti-radicalisation programme and police have confirmed the murder is terror related.
Officers today raided two properties in London as the investigation continued and it has emerged the suspect’s family came to the UK from Somalia in the 1990s.
Mr Johnson and Sir Keir put political differences to one side Saturday morning in a joint unannounced visit to lay wreathes at the scene. Outside Southend police station, Home Secretary Priti Patel said a ‘balance’ must be struck between the accessibility and safety of parliamentarians as questions are raised over whether face-to-face meetings should be held in constituencies in the future.
It comes five years after Labour MP for Batley and Spen Jo Cox was murdered on her way to a surgery in 2016.
Elsewhere in the murder investigation:
- Lone knifeman inflicted multiple stab wounds during the murder of Sir David Amess in Southend Friday
- British man, 25, arrested by police at the scene on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody in Essex;
- It is understood he lived in Sir David’s constituency after his family came to the UK from Somalia in the 1990s;
- Officers are currently carrying out searches at two addresses in the London area and these are ongoing;
- Police believe the man acted alone and are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident;
- Murder was labelled terrorism and police said a potential motivation was linked to Islamist extremism.
A tearful mourner and local resident leaves flowers and a card behind in memory of Sir David Amess, 69, at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
People of all ages leave flowers at the scene near Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex where Conservative MP Sir David Amess was brutally stabbed 17 times by a suspected Islamic extremist.
Blue balloons were handed out at a vigil in Southend on Saturday afternoon as constituents paid tribute
Candles were set up on a table as well-wishers paid tribute to Sir David at a vigil on Saturday afternoon
Dozens of mourners headed out for a vigil to remember Sir David following his death on Friday afternoon
Mourners lit candles at a vigil to remember the veteran MP and father-of-five on Saturday
Wellwishers thanked Sir David Amess after his near four decades of service in the House of Commons. Pictured: One tribute read: ‘Thank you for your service to the community. Rest in peace’
Steady streams of people have left flowers and written notes of support outside the murder scene at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex over the past 24 hours
Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, Priti Patel and Sir Lyndsay Hoyle arrive to the scene of Sir David Amess’s killing in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex to pay tribute Saturday
The Prime Minster’s floral wreath message read: ‘To the memory of Sir David Amess MP, a fine parliamentarian and a much-loved colleague and friend’
A statement on behalf of ‘all Southend mosques’ read: ‘Sir David’s murder was an indefensible atrocity, committed on the grounds of a place of worship and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This act was committed in the name of blind hatred, and we look forward to the perpetrator being brought to justice.’
Members of Southend’s Muslim community paid tribute to Sir David, with Ruhul Shamsuddin, joint secretary of Essex Jamme Masjid, describing the MP as a ‘tremendous force for good and pillar of support for our community’.
‘This was senseless violence against a truly wonderful man,’ he said.
Iftikhar Ul Haq, Imam, UKIM Southend Mosque and Dr Arshad Ghori, president, UKIM Southend Mosque, said Sir David was ‘always reachable, he showed great compassion for communities and always was there to offer support’.
Ibrar Azam, secretary, Faizane Madina Masjid Southend, said he was ‘saddened’ by Sir David’s death.
Meanwhile, an Iranian opposition group has paid tribute to Sir David, describing him as a ‘human rights champion’ and an ‘enemy of many dictators’.
Hossein Abedini was among several members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran who laid flowers and framed photos of the MP near the church where he died.
Mr Abedini said: ‘Sir David had a very important role in supporting the people of Iran, the uprisings happening in Iran, the Iranian refugees in Camp Ashraf.’
As part of this, Sir David had recently called on the Government to ban Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric, from attending the Cop26 global climate summit in Glasgow, Mr Abedini said.
Southend councillor John Lamb said Sir David had ‘helped so many refugees’.
‘There are some Iranians in London he has helped so often with family and problems, even in their own country,’ he said. They hold great respect and admiration for him and they are as devastated as we are that this has happened to him.’
The Council of Somali Organisations also condemned the ‘brutal murder’ as they described the death as ‘senseless’ and said it expresses its ‘deepest sympathy and condolences’ to his family and constituents.
The murder suspect – who has not been named – is thought to be a British man of Somali descent.
CSO director Kahiye Alim said: ‘I send my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Sir David Amess MP. His life was one of service to others and we will remember his legacy is one of empowerment and community building.
‘We utterly condemn this brutal murder, which is an affront to all of our values and our democratic society itself.’
The Prime Minister lays a wreath of flowers at the foot of a tree in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and Sir Keir Starmer stands behind him
Home Secretary Priti Patel silently pays her respects to veteran MP Sir David Amess in Essex on Saturday morning
Forensic officers with Essex Police are pictured inside Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
The Met Police confirmed that the killing of Southend West Sir David Amess (pictured) is being treated as a terror incident ‘with links to Islamist extremism’ as a British man with Somali heritage remains in police custody on suspicion of murder
A much-loved MP and a proud father of five, Sir David gave away his daughter Alex, 31, in marriage just weeks ago
A mother and her young daughter arrive prepare to lay flowers by a police cordon outside a Baptist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
MPs and members of Sir David’s Southend West constituency have paid tribute to an ‘absolutely wonderful’ parliamentarian today.
