The fatal stabbing of an Essex MP at his constituency surgery today has led to comparisons with the murder of Jo Cox five years ago.

Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, has been killed after he was stabbed multiple times at a church in Leigh-on-Sea where he was holding a surgery for his constituents.

Essex Police have confirmed that one man has been arrested following the incident.

The attack has drawn comparisons with the murder of MP Jo Cox in June 2016.

Echo: Jo Cox. Credit: Jo Cox FoundationJo Cox. Credit: Jo Cox Foundation

Jo Cox murder

Mrs Cox, 41, was attacked in the street outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, at lunchtime.

The MP was shot and stabbed by Thomas Mair, who was sentenced to life in prison in November of that year.

 

The Jo Cox Foundation said: “The Jo Cox Foundation is horrified to hear the news of the attack on Sir David Amess MP.

“We are thinking of him, his family and loved ones at this distressing time.”

Mrs Cox's widower, Brendan Cox tweeted: "Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself. There is no excuse, no justification.

"It is as cowardly as it gets."

Sir David Amess MP – what we know so far

In a statement, Essex Police said officers arrived at the scene in Eastwood Road North shortly after 12.05pm and arrested a man.

A knife was also recovered from the area.

 

The statement said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion murder after a man was stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea.

"We were called to an address in Eastwood Road North shortly after 12.05pm today.

"We attended and found a man injured.

"He was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene.

"A 25 year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered.

"He is currently in custody.

"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident."

An employee of Jean’s Laundry, near Belfair’s Methodist Church, said she did not know anything about the situation but had seen emergency service vehicles go by.

“We just saw all the police and the ambulances turning up, it was probably about half past 12 or just before then,” she told the PA news agency.

“I saw about two or three ambulances and then an undercover police car and other police cars going past.

“There’s usually people walking past, elderly people walking to the shops. We’ve still got no idea what’s going on, we’re not very busy on a Friday and no one has come in to talk to us about it.”

Sir David Amess MP – Government response

Media opportunities to film the start of a Cabinet meeting on Friday have been cancelled, as was a planned interview with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which was due to take place afterwards.

It is unclear whether the Cabinet meeting is going ahead.

Essex Police said anyone with information should contact the force quoting incident 445 of 15 October.