London: British police arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire on Saturday night on suspicion of involvement in the murder of Anne Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former UK minister and spokesperson, a few days earlier.
According to Thai News Agency, a statement from Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the 28-year-old white British man was arrested in cooperation with the Northeast Counter-Terrorism Unit and South Yorkshire Police. The suspect is currently in custody for questioning. Previously, a 26-year-old man was detained in Newton Abbot on Friday, but he was released on Saturday after police confirmed he is no longer involved in the investigation. Authorities have stated that there is no indication the case is related to terrorism or politically motivated crime. Local news outlets have suggested that police are exploring the theory that the incident may have been a violent escalation stemming from a home burglary.
British media have reported key details and timelines of the case: On Wednesday, July 8, Anne Widdecombe appeared for an interview on TalkTV from her home in the morning and later sent a text message to the Channel 5 coordinating team, marking her last known activity. Police believe this was around the time she was attacked, sustaining serious head injuries. By the afternoon of July 9, an ambulance was called to her remote home in Hayter, Devon, where she was found dead. On Friday, the case was officially upgraded to a homicide investigation after a preliminary autopsy revealed signs of severe physical assault.
Anne Widdecombe was a prominent and long-standing female politician in the United Kingdom, serving as a Conservative Member of Parliament for 23 years until 2010. She held positions as Home Secretary and Prisons Minister in Sir John Major's government and was a staunch Brexit supporter. Widdecombe was elected to the European Parliament as a Brexit Party member from 2019 to 2020 and most recently served as Justice and Immigration Spokesperson for the Reform UK Party under Nigel Farage. She was also known for her appearances on popular shows such as Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.