Summary

  • Police say they are treating the killing of MP Sir David Amess as a terrorist incident

  • There is a potential link to Islamist extremism, and counter-terrorism officers are searching two addresses in the London area

  • The Conservative MP was stabbed multiple times in the attack in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday

  • Boris Johnson and the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have laid flowers at the scene

  • Home Secretary Priti Patel says Sir David was killed doing a job he loved

  • Ms Patel, who also has an Essex constituency, calls Sir David a "dear and loyal friend"

  • A 25-year-old British man is being held in police custody on suspicion of murder

  • Government sources tell the BBC he is a UK national who, from initial inquiries, appears to be of Somali heritage

Live Reporting

Edited by Emma Atkinson

  1. MPs continue to hold surgeries and meet constituents

    Alec Shelbrooke@AlecShelbrooke

    Alec Shelbrooke is among MPs holding constituency surgeries as usual - less than 24 hours after the death of Sir David Amess.

    The Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell in West Yorkshire tweeted: "We cannot let events like this diminish the deep relationship between an MP and their constituents.

    "This is a relationship I value deeply: I want my constituents, regardless of whether they voted for me or not, to be able to approach me in the street, in the pub, at the supermarket or at one of my surgeries."

    Fellow Tory MP Robert Largan, also met people in his High Peak constituency in Derbyshire.

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  2. Watch: Home Secretary pays tribute to 'man of the people'

    Home Secretary Priti Patel says many are struggling to come to terms with the killing of Sir David Amess, whom she described as a "dear and loyal friend".

    "As an Essex MP he was a neighbour of mine, he was deeply loved," added Ms Patel. Watch her comments below.

    Sir David Amess was a friend and neighbour and deeply loved - Priti Patel

  3. Police Scotland writes to all MSPs

    Police Scotland has written to all members of the Scottish Parliament individually, following the death of the MP Sir David Amess.

    Presiding officer Alison Johnstone told fellow MSPs about the police contact in a letter, which also says all thoughts are with Sir David's family, friends and colleagues.

    She says the Scottish Parliament will provide MSPs with any security advice and support they require.

  4. Amess was a 'father of all nations'

    Abigail Mkhize and her sister Ntombi

    The mood in Leigh-on-Sea is one of bewilderment.

    Sir David Amess had represented the area for decades and his constituents speak warmly of a man who dedicated his life to serving them.

    Abigail Mkhize and her sister Ntombi spoke of their sorrow as they explained why Sir David was so special to them.

    In between tears, Abigail said he had been there for her and her family.

    The agency nurse who has lived in the Southend area for 20 years went to see Sir David six years ago when she was having chemotherapy and needed help getting employment support allowance.

    "The kindness, he said you have been here a long time, this is not right. He said I will sort it out and he did, he did," said Abigail Mkhize.

    "He was just a normal human being. We just can't believe it. He was the father of all nations, whether you are black or white, irrespective of where you came from.

    "He was like a father to everyone, we just can't believe it, can't believe it. I know so many people he helped.

    "He told me about his twin girls as I work in the special baby care unit, he was one of us, an amazing man, just an amazing man. We are very upset. We are mourning with them (his family), and thinking of them," she added.

  5. Very limited jihadist reaction

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    There has been extremely limited jihadist reaction online to the killing of British member of parliament Sir David Amess.

    A clampdown on jihadist accounts on their messaging app of choice, Telegram could have affected the volume of reaction.

    The Sanam News Agency, a jihadist news-focused channel, factually reported on the incident, highlighting Sir David's membership of the Conservative Party.

    Targeted searches for reactions on Telegram and the decentralised platforms RocketChat and Element, which jihadists also use, have failed to yield relevant results at the time of writing.

    Both Islamic State group (IS) and its rival al-Qaeda, and their supporters, have previously incited lone wolf attacks in the West, including against political targets.

    IS is often quick to claim such attacks when the perpetrators have declared their allegiance or been killed. Claims are rare when the perpetrator is detained.

  6. He 'mentioned Southend's bid for city status at every chance'

    Sir David Amess has campaigned for years for Southend to become a city - mentioning it virtually every week in Parliament.

    Just a few days ago, he told BBC Radio Essex that his plan was "to wear them down until they say yes".

    "I’ve spent all my time mentioning it at every conceivable opportunity," he told presenter Sonia Watson.

    "If they’re sick to death of hearing all the reasons why Southend should become a city then they should grant it to us, it’s a no-brainer, the benefits are enormous.

    “We are engaging local residents in the situation, we’ve got some great events planned and we’ve got a wonderful team of people who are putting our bid together so I’m really, really excited about the prospect.

    "It could absolutely transform things in Southend and raise civic pride."

    Southend-on-Sea

  7. PM praises 'a fine parliamentarian'

    Boris JohnsonDowning Street

    Boris Johnson describes Sir David as a "fine parliamentarian" in a card placed outside the church

    Priti PatelPA Media

    The prime minister was accompanied by Home Secretary Priti Patel

    Keir StarmerPA Media

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also left flowers

  8. Latest on the death of MP Sir David Amess

    If you're just joining us, here's what we know about the death of Essex MP Sir David Amess who was stabbed while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea yesterday.

    • Police say they are treating the killing as terrorism which is potentially motivated by Islamist extremism
    • A 25-year-old man has been arrested in suspicion of murder and officers are searching two addresses in London
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer join many in laying flowers at the scene
    • Home Secretary Priti Patel calls Sir David "a man of the people" who died doing the job he loved
    • Tributes pour in for the married father-of-five who is remembered as an animal lover with a sense of fun who tirelessly campaigned for the rights of others

  9. Sir David raised knife crime with PM months before stabbing

    Sir David Amess asked Boris Johnson what the police, society and Parliament could do to tackle knife crime after the death of a constituent earlier this year.

    In response, the PM said the government was recruiting more police officers to fight crime, tackling county lines drug gangs, and lengthening sentences for those convicted of knife crimes.

  10. MPs should look for 'obvious gaps' in security arrangements

    Philip Grindell a former security adviser to MPs, says parliamentarians will be being contacted to review their safety arrangements and encouraged to fill the "obvious gaps".

    All MPs are offered "a full package of security" but not all take it, he says.

    He says current arrangements will be reviewed "once the dust settles and we know more about the attack".

    He adds it has long been recognised that MPs are "most vulnerable" at their constituency offices adding "the challenge is communicating that with every MP".

  11. Watch: How emergency services responded to MP's stabbing

    Here's how the emergency services responded in the initial aftermath of the attack on Sir David Amess.

  12. Sir David Amess: Fun, friendly and passionate

    An animal lover with a sense of fun and a tireless campaigner and supporter of many charities is how many are remembering Sir David.

    These pictures reveal just a few of his many passions.

    Firstly with journalist Ben Wright during the Parliamentary Pancake Race in 2015.

    Pancake raceGetty

    Sir David was among the MPs, lords, political correspondents and members of the media competing in the fundraiser event organised by the Rehab disability charity to support its work with disabled people

    The 69-year-old was an MP who earned cross-party respect for the conviction he brought to his campaigns. They ranged from passionate support of Brexit to animal rights - and anything that brought Essex up in the world.

    David Amess with a dogGetty Images
    Sir David Amess with Trevor Brooking in 2015Getty Images

    He was also a football fan pictured here meeting Sir Trevor Brooking at a parliamentary reception commemorating the FA's 150th anniversary at the House of Commons

    There are lots more pictures from throughout Sir David's life here.

  13. Tributes at Westminster and local Conservative club

    As well as outside the church in Lea-on-Sea, tributes have been left outside Sir David Amess's local Conservative club and at Westminster.

    Flowers outside the Iveagh Conservative Members Club in EssexReuters

    Flowers were left outside the Iveagh Conservative club in Leigh-on-Sea

    Tributes outside the Iveagh Conservative Members Club in EssexReuters

    One tribute said it was "impossible to express" the shock at the death of Sir David

    Flowers outside ParliamentReuters

    Floral tributes were also left in Parliament Square at Westminster, where Sir David sat as an MP since 1983

  14. Flowers and cards left outside Leigh-on-Sea church

    David Amess tributeGetty Images

    Flowers outside the Belfairs Methodist Church, where the Essex MP was stabbed to death

    David Amess tributesPA Media

    One message outside the church describes Sir David as "an honourable friend of the Iranian people in their quest for freedom and democracy"

    David Amess tributePA Media

    Another card thanks the MP for his support of the Surfers' Against Sewage campaign

  15. 'A true public servant'

    Tributes to Sir David have been made by lots of the people he worked with.

    Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex has described him as a "true public servant".

    "It was a sombre moment of reflection to remember a man who worked so hard for his community, who served those he represented passionately and made a real difference for Southend," Mr Hirst said.

    "My heart goes out to his family and friends and also his constituents at this difficult time.

    "As we try and come to terms with these tragic events it is important we remember the man he was and contribution he made."

    Tory veteran Sir David was married with five children.

    His killing comes five-and-a-half years after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by a far-right extremist in her Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire.

    Roger HirstEssex Police

  16. Candlelit vigil for Sir David

    Residents of Leigh-on-Sea are to hold a candlelit vigil for Sir David this evening.

    Organiser, Julie Everitt told the BBC he "was a much loved member of our community".

    "He would go on campaigns, he was against the badger cull, he was against trophy hunting and fox hunting.

    "I wrote to him on several occasions and he would always reply. He was a good gentleman, he had a good heart."

    "(His death) has rocked our community here, we can’t believe it’s happened here.

    "It’s an area that respected Sir David, whatever your political views were, because he was such a genuine, kind man."

    The vigil is expected to start at 19:00BST at the recreation ground opposite the Belfairs Inn.

    Julie Everitt

  17. What security is currently in place for MPs?

    Most MPs do not get close protection while in their constituencies, but security was increased following Mrs Cox's killing in 2016.

    All MPs were offered panic buttons, extra security lighting, additional locks and emergency fobs at their homes and constituency offices.

    The spending on such measures increaded from £170,576 in 2015-16 to £4.5m two years later.

  18. 'I had a recurring nightmare about death threats'

    Jade Bottrill - a former member of staff for Labour MP Yvette Cooper - told the BBC she left her job due to the overwhelming number of death threats the office received.

    She recalled the office being sent a “sympathy card for Yvette’s friends and family” with a message threatening to kill her.

    “I became obsessed with finding death threats," says Ms Bottrill.

    "I would finish work quite late, I would come home, have tea, go to bed and just lay in bed scrolling Facebook, finding and reporting death threats.

    She said she would then go to sleep and "have this recurring nightmare" that Ms Cooper would be attacked.

    Yvette Cooper

    Yvette Cooper is the Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford

  19. MP expresses trepidation over constituency meeting

    Welsh MP Chris Elmore says he will attend his constituency surgery with "trepidation" in the aftermath of Sir David's death.

    Speaking to the BBC, the Labour MP for Ogmore said there would be a police presence at his own surgery "for the first time in several years".

    He says security was stepped up at his constituency office in Bridgend, and his home following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

    "It does play on your mind...but I am elected to serve my constituents, I'm elected to be accessible to my constituents.

    "I don't think anything will happen, but it will rest heavy on my mind until I've finished the surgery."

  20. No evidence suspect on terror database

    Frank Gardner
    BBC Security Correspondent

    Whitehall officials say the suspect in custody was not on their database of SOI’s (Subjects of Interest).

    They do not rule out the possibility that links to proscribed terror groups could later emerge from the forensic analysis of his phones.