Latest: British MP Jo Cox has died
- British MP Jo Cox has died following a daylight attack today;
- A 52-year-old man has been arrested following the attack.
- Police say they're not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.
- A second person, a man in his late 40s to early 50s, was injured during the incident.
- All Brexit campaigning has been suspended for the day.
- The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has urged people to “fight against the hatred that killed her”.
President Michael D Higgins said Cox's death makes a dreadful comment on our times and her loss must not be in vain.
He also said to see a young parliamentarian killed in the course of her work is especially shocking.
Enda Kenny, who had been due to campaign against a Brexit in England today, condemned the fatal attack on the Labour MP.
"I think it's an appalling crime."
What an appalling tragedy. Jo Cox, a mother doing her public duty, her life taken away. My deepest sympathies to her family.
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) June 16, 2016
The husband of Jo Cox has released a statement following her tragic death.
He has urged people to “fight against the hatred that killed her”.
Statement from Jo Cox's husband Brendan following news of her death pic.twitter.com/mipnwimOvm
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 16, 2016
Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, has died after being shot in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire Police said.
Jo Cox MP was pronounced dead at 1.48pm by a doctor with a paramedic crew
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 16, 2016
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country would be "in shock at the horrific murder" of MP Jo Cox, who was a "much loved colleague".
The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) June 16, 2016
At a police press conference, Chief constable of West Yorkshire police Dee Collins said Jo Cox was declared dead at the scene.
The police officer said the area was now a crime scene and a full investigation is taking place.
The media have been asked to respect the privacy of the victims’ family.
An eyewitness Clarke Rothwell has said that the man “purposefully targeted” Jo Cox.
Speaking to BBC News Rothwell, who owns the café beside the library, said Ms Cox was shot three times and people were trying to help her.
It is reported the man then ran off down a one-way street.
Believed to be moment of arrest of man involved in #Birstall incident https://t.co/7p3KQh5vYl pic.twitter.com/VYDyopyTzi
— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) June 16, 2016
All Brexit campaining has been suspended for the day.
Following the appalling attack on Jo Cox MP & the suspension of campaigning I will not be speaking on the EU/UK referendum this evening.
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) June 16, 2016
It's right that all campaigning has been stopped after the terrible attack on Jo Cox. I won't go ahead with tonight's rally in Gibraltar.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) June 16, 2016
Labour MP Jo Cox is said to be in a critical condition.
A press release from West Yorkshire Police has said that a man in his 50’s was arrested following an attack on British MP Jo Cox on Market Street, Birstall.
The incident occurred at 12.53pm today.
A man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby also suffered slight injuries.
Very concerned about reports Jo Cox has been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jo and her family.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) June 16, 2016
Police presence in the area has been increased as a reassurance to the community.
According to a Labour source quoted by the Guardian, Ms Cox was shot and stabbed after she had conducted her morning surgery for constituents. Another person, who has not been identified, was also injured and both were taken to hospital, the source said.
Owner of the nearby Azzuro restaurant Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, said the MP intervened in a row between two men when she was shot.
He said: "There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag."
After a brief scuffle, he said the man stepped back and the MP became involved.
He said: "He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice and then she fell between two cars and I came and saw her bleeding on the floor."
Ms Cox's assistant confirmed she had been attacked and said he was trying to get more information from police at the scene.
Mr Abdallah said the weapon looked handmade and that the man who had been wrestling with the assailant continued to do so even after he saw the gun.
He said: "The man stepped back with the gun and fired it and then he fired a second shot, as he was firing he was looking down at the ground.
Eyewitness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside.
He told the Press Association: "There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag."
After a brief scuffle, he said the man stepped back and the MP became involved.
He added: "He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice and then she fell between two cars and I came and saw her bleeding on the floor."
After around 15 minutes, the shop owner said emergency services arrived and tended to her with a drip.
A British MP Jo Cox has been shot and injured in an attack in her constituency near Leeds.
The Labour MP is a 41-year-old mother of two.
An eyewitness said the politician was left lying bleeding on the pavement after the incident in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
The attack took place near the town's library where she held advice surgeries.
Ms Cox was elected to the seat of Batley and Spen at the last general election in 2015.
Police escort an ambulance to a #Leeds hospital after a shooting in #Birstall pic.twitter.com/Z5z6OZ8BLX
— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) June 16, 2016
According to the BBC, a primary school is in lockdown and a gunman may be on the loose near the shooting at Birstall.
