Jo Cox, a member of Parliament for the Labor Party, died from wounds sustained earlier Thursday from an assailant who shot and stabbed her. The fatal attack occurred at a previously scheduled meeting with constituents called a surgery.
The Telegraph newspaper reported Thursday afternoon that the suspect police have in custody, Thomas Mair, has been described as a loner who had “a history of mental health problems” and may have once been a subscriber to a South African magazine that opposed “expansionist Islam.”
The BBC noted that an eyewitness reported the assailant shouted, “Put Britain first,” at least twice before attacking Ms. Cox, who was a supporter of Britain voting to remain in the European Union.
An eyewitness told the BBC that the assailant shot Ms. Cox and proceeded to kick her as she lay on the floor.
The 41-year-old mother of two represented a constituency in the north of England, winning “the 2015 general election with the highest majority the seat has ever known,” according to her parliamentary website.
“The whole of the Labour family, and indeed the whole country, is in shock and grief at the horrific murder of Jo Cox,” Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted, including an attached statement that praised Ms. Cox as having had a “lifelong record of public service and a deep commitment to humanity.”
“Jo was universally liked” in Parliament by members of all parties, Mr. Corbyn said in his statement.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “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.”
The BBC reported that the official campaigns on both sides of next Thursday’s Brexit referendum have suspended their activities out of respect for Ms. Cox.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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