Footage shows Widdecombe suspect in car as terror police take over
Footage appears to show the Ann Widdecombe murder suspect getting into a red car outside a Rotherham home at 07:51 on Wednesday—the morning she is thought to have been attacked in Devon. Counter terrorism police later took over the probe after new evidence led to a terrorism re-arrest, though earlier statements had ruled out a political motive.
Key Takeaways
- CCTV reportedly shows a man in a white shirt and shorts entering a red vehicle in Rotherham at 07:51 on 8 July.
- Ann Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her Devon home on Thursday; police believe she was attacked around 12:30 on Wednesday.
- A 28-year-old man from Rotherham was arrested on murder suspicion Saturday, then re-arrested on terrorism grounds.
- Counter Terrorism Policing South East is now leading what authorities call a dynamic, complex investigation.
- Devon and Cornwall Police had said there was no indication the killing was politically motivated or terrorism-related.
What does the CCTV footage appear to show?
Reports citing the footage describe a man dressed in a white shirt and shorts getting into a red vehicle outside a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The clip is time-stamped at 07:51 on Wednesday 8 July—the day police believe the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman was attacked at her home in Haytor, Devon.
The property sits more than 200 miles from Widdecombe's Dartmoor bungalow. In the images, a long object appears to protrude from the man's shorts pocket as he enters the car. The BBC reported that neighbours near a Rotherham address linked to the investigation heard banging before armed officers entered a house on Sunday, when the street was cordoned off for forensic work. Another neighbour said police removed a red car from a driveway.
Why are counter terrorism police now leading the case?
Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation after Widdecombe, 78, was found with serious injuries at about 11:40 on Thursday. Officers believe she was attacked the previous day at around 12:30. A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after 21:00 on Saturday.
On Monday, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said new information and evidence had come to light, and that counter terrorism police would now lead the inquiry. The man in custody was re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. CTPSE described the case as a dynamic and complex investigation.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for the attack. Police were continuing to question the suspect on Monday. Readers following UK homicide cases can find related reporting in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries section.
Did police rule out a political or terror motive?
Earlier in the weekend, the picture looked different. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police told reporters on Sunday that there was still no information to suggest the killing was terrorism-related or politically motivated. He said detectives remained open-minded about motive but were not looking for anyone else.
Longman added that speculation online was unhelpful and distressing to Widdecombe's relatives. The force has received more than 120 reports after a public appeal and asked anyone with information to come forward as a priority. A 26-year-old man arrested earlier was released and is no longer part of the investigation, according to the BBC.
Longman also said there was no wider threat to the public, though a cordon remained at the Devon scene and communities could expect a heightened police presence in the coming weeks.
Who was Ann Widdecombe?
Widdecombe was first elected a Conservative MP in 1987 and served in government before later representing the Brexit Party as an MEP and acting as a Reform UK spokeswoman. Chief Constable James Vaughan of Devon and Cornwall Police called the response to her killing an extraordinary effort after the murder of a very prominent public figure.