Counter terrorism officers have taken over the investigation into the killing of former MP Ann Widdecombe, a dramatic escalation following the discovery of Russian communist literature and other items of political ideology at the home of the suspected killer. The probe now centers on whether the attack was politically motivated.
This shift marks a reversal for Devon and Cornwall Police, who had initially insisted there was no link to terrorism and focused on a theory that Widdecombe, 78, may have disturbed a burglar at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor. Nothing was reported stolen from the property.
Reform UK, the party Widdecombe recently defended as its immigration and justice spokesman, criticized the police's early statements, accusing them of misleading the public and attempting to close off avenues of investigation. Senior officers are facing pressure to explain why terror or political motivation was publicly ruled out early on.
Investigators are exploring the possibility that a self-radicalized individual may have targeted Widdecombe, viewing her as an