Former MP Ann Widdecombe, 78, was found dead with serious injuries at her secluded Haytor Vale home on Dartmoor, in what police now say was a targeted attack. Counter-terrorism officers have seized control of the investigation, and a man is in custody while detectives work to piece together a motive.
Counter-terror police say attack was targeted
Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that specialist officers are now leading the case. In a statement to GOV.UK, he said: "We now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation." He added that "it is clear that this was a targeted attack," signalling a significant escalation in how authorities are treating the killing.
How investigators say the attack unfolded
Devon and Cornwall officers say ambulance crews were called to Widdecombe’s Haytor address at about 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, where she was found dead with what police described as "serious injuries," according to Devon & Cornwall Police. Officers initially arrested a man who was later released and is no longer part of the inquiry. On Saturday, a 28-year-old man was arrested in Rotherham and has since been rearrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, as reported by AP.
Who Widdecombe was
Widdecombe was a long-standing and highly recognisable figure in British public life, serving as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 and as prisons minister in John Major’s government before becoming a staple of TV studios. She later appeared on entertainment shows including "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Celebrity Big Brother," and most recently served as a Reform UK spokesperson. She was 78, The Guardian reports. Politicians from across the spectrum paid tribute as detectives continued to track leads in the case.
Security fallout and political response
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs that counter-terror police had formally taken over the investigation and said the government would review security for people in public life, according to GOV.UK. Her comments explicitly invoked the killings of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess and have reignited debate over how best to protect current and former parliamentarians, a theme quickly picked up by international outlets.
Legal status and what police are asking
Police say the man currently in custody has not been charged, and investigators have urged the public not to speculate while enquiries are ongoing. Officers have opened a Major Incident Public Portal for CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage and are asking anyone with relevant material or information to upload it there, according to Devon & Cornwall Police. Detectives say they will release further details when it is operationally safe to do so.
