Counter Terrorism Police Take Over Ann Widdecombe Murder Probe

Counter Terrorism Policing assumed control of the inquiry into the death of Ann Widdecombe after evidence indicated a targeted attack, Hot Air reported. The 78-year-old former prisons minister and Reform UK spokesman was discovered on Thursday morning at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, by her gardener in a pool of blood.

Devon and Cornwall Police initially treated the case as possible natural causes or a burglary at the £600,000 property, where nothing was reported stolen.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman stated on Friday night that the incident was not being treated as terrorism and that officers had no information indicating political motivation. The force waited more than 24 hours before declaring a murder investigation. A local labourer was arrested two days after the death and later released.

On Saturday night, police detained a 28-year-old man from Rotherham, 270 miles from the scene. Russian communist literature and other items of political ideology were later found at the suspect's home and on electronic devices, according to The Mail. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor stated it had become clear the victim was killed in a targeted attack.

He refused to rule out involvement by foreign state actors and declined to comment on whether the murder was aimed at Reform UK. Investigators are examining whether the suspect was a self-radicalised loner who viewed Widdecombe as an easy target due to her political profile, and whether leftwing, anarchist or single-issue terrorism played a role, The Guardian reported.