BREAKING: Ann Widdecombe killed in ‘targeted attack’ - counter-terrorism police give latest details

On breaking news, counter -terrorism police have now provided an update on the murder of Anne Whittacombe.Let's get straight to GB News' home.Let's go to Mog White, who joins us live from Devon.Mog, what's new?

Yes, our briefing just ended.Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the most senior counter -terrorism police officer in the UK, briefing security journalists at Scotland Yard.And what I'm going to do is just read you, effectively, some of the key comments, I think, that have come out of that that are of note.First of all, Assistant Commissioner Taylor says, it is clear to counter -terrorism policing that this was a targeted attack.He says we're still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation that sits behind that attack.He said, I don't want to comment further on that motivation or the preparation at this stage of our inquiries.

Absolutely, you can understand that.We're at a very sensitive stage of what is continuing to be a fast -paced investigation.said.the permission of a magistrate at some point within a week's time or so, but they've got that initial extension for another seven days.What Assistant Commissioner Taylor says is that the suspect remains under arrestforensic examinations.

So in other words looking at electronic devices such as laptops, mobile phones etc to see if there's anything that might be relevant to the ongoing investigation.He said I'm also of course very aware of the significant levels of public interest in this case given that Miss Whittakam was such a high -profile political and public figure and familiar to many.He's not, he says, going to address every bit of speculation that we've seen.But he said, I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public that the investigations of this type are complex and that new information can emerge as officers progress their inquiries.He said, we don't intend to release further information.He said, we do intend to release further information when it's available and when it's appropriate to do so.

Of course, as I say, they don't want to get ahead of what is a complex investigation.They don't want to risk prejudicing any forthcoming trial if it gets that far.So that's why, of course, there's always a note of caution from Assistant Commissioner Taylor.Again, it's just...with journalists to allow the police, the counterterrorism officers, to do their job thoroughly and carefully and think before sharing any unverified information.He said, it's important to remember that this is the murder of a brutal attack on a 78 -year -old lady in her own home.

And I want to ensure that the work is conducted sensitively and considers the impact of what has happened.He then says, I'd like to end by reassuring all of those who knew Anne Whittacombe that our excellent teams of investigators are working incredibly hard with the aim of securing justice for her and her family.There are, he says, a number of inquiries that we're conducting in relation to that at this stage.That's with regard to a question.It's gone to some questions from members of the press.They're asking about the motivation.

He says there are a number of inquiries that we're conducting in relation to that at this stage.I won't or wouldn't want to comment on what that motivation was.But in terms of the preparation and planning, we are aware that there has been some preparation, he says, and planning.I don't want to go into the details of the extent of that at this stage.And when we're able to comment on that, he says he absolutely will.So there you go.

New information there that the police, counter -terror command, believe that this was a targeted attack.They believe that there was an element of preparation and planning, but they don'twant to go into exactly what that was for understandable reasons.It's still a very fast -paced investigation, as the assistant commissioner says, Martin, with multiple strands to their inquiry and also that significant development that they have sought additional time to question their suspect.another seven days that they are allowed to continue questioning and detaining this suspect as those inquiries continue.And also just that point about them looking through digital forensics, so looking at the likes of mobile phones, laptops and whatever other digital evidence there might be in this case.

My wife, thank you very much.Stick with us for a moment.There's a huge amount of information there.I'll give you a quick breather and bring our viewers.The list is up to speed.As we await that Scotland Yard briefing, the statement is imminent.

Charlie Peters will be there for us.Quickly, to bring it up to speed, what has just come out?The Assistant Commissioner Taylor said, first of all, point one, there was, it's clear, this was a targeted attack.Still working on the motivation, don't comment any further at this stage, but, quote, preparation and planning went into the murder.Key points.targeted attack with preparation and planning.

Second point, extensive searches of a property in Rotherham.We understand, of course, that is the suspect's property.Third point, the suspect detained for up to seven days now under the Terrorism Act, giving the police longer to cross -examine the suspect.Point four, the suspect is under arrest, not only in the terror charge, but also being held on suspicion of murder.Point five, a complex inquiry and a number of digital devices searches are going on.Of course, Mark White's intimated they're clearly with laptops, mobile phones.

So a digital dive into the suspect's social media, perhaps messaging habits prior to the murder.the suspect is alleged to be involved in.And point six, there's an acknowledgement there this is a significant public interest case and at this point there's no speculation around the motivations behind it.And just to repeat, we are waiting for a statement from Scotland Yard in tandem to this one here from Assistant Commissioner Taylor.Are we going back to Mark White or are we waiting to go back to But back to Mark White.Mark, just giving you a little breather there and bringing our viewers and listeners up to speed.

But quite clearly, they have now a seven -day window.They have a suspect.They have devices to go at.They have an address to search.There's a huge amount going on.But the key, key point here, it was clear this was targeted and there was preparation and planning went into the murder.

That is absolutely the belief of counter -terrorism detectives.I should say another one of the questions from journalists that our producer Tom Fredericks, who is in that briefing for us as well, thought it was worth sharing.Ree, whether Anne Whittacombe was targeted because of her appearance that very morning that she died, remember, that it's believed that she was murdered around lunchtime last Wednesday.She had appeared on talk radio that morning.She was due to give other interviews that morning as well.Well, Lawrence Taylor, Assistant Commissioner in charge of counter -terrorism policing says, of course we're exploring all lines of inquiry and that is one of the lines of inquiry

we will be exploring going forward, Martin.

Thank you Mark Wyatt.And as you can see there are live pictures from New Scotland Yard.We're expecting information to come out of that.It's all being embargoed of course as it is going on.But Mark Wyatt, Mark Wyatt of course we are waiting for that statement to come out imminently.Things happening very, very quickly now.

A huge amount of information coming out.But the key thing, and we heard from Nigel Farage around about 25 minutes ago, Nigel Farage claiming he receives 300 threats.per month.Of course, he's at a meeting with RAVC, the protection squad, the advisors on that, at the bequest of course of Shabana Mahmood yesterday.We think we can see some action, I think, there at Scotland Yard.We're waiting for the media to be addressed.

I think that is that.Let's get to New Scotland Yard, Mark White.

Good afternoon.I'm Lawrence Taylor, Assistant Commissioner, the Head of National Cancer Terrorism Policing.I'm here to provide you an update on a case that has very much dominated the headlines since the first news broke last week of the shocking death of Anne Whittacombe.Firstly, as you will understand, this incident has had a deeply distressing impact on Miss Whittacombe's family and we're doing all we can to support them alongside our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall.The thoughts of everybody at Counterterrorism Policing are with them at what is a very challenging time.As we confirmed yesterday, Counterterrorism South East are now leading the investigation into the death of Anne Whittacombe.

This is due to new information and evidence coming to light following the arrest of a 28 -year -old man on Saturday in South East London.I know there will be lots of questions about what that new information is but this is a live investigation so I'm limited on the details that I can give.However it is clear that this was a targeted attack.We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation that sits behind that attack.and I do not want to comment further on this at this stage of our inquiries.Extensive searches have taken place at an address in Rotherham and scenes remain in place as that activity continues.

We have also been granted a warrant of further detention, which means the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act.He remains under arrest on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.as well as on suspicion of murder.This is a complex investigation and there are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, including digital forensic examinations.I am very aware of the significant levels of public interest in this case, given that Miss Whittakam was such a high -profile political and public figure and familiar to many.I do not intend to address every bit of speculation we have seen.

But I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public that investigations of this type are complex and new information can emerge as officers progress their inquiries.And we intend to release further information when it's available and when it is appropriate to do so.So please allow us to do our job.thoroughly and carefully and think before sharing any unverified information.It is important to remember that this is a murder investigation following a brutal attack on a 78 -year -old lady in her own home.I want to ensure that our work is conducted sensitively and considers the impact of what has happened.

I would like to end by reassuring all of those who knew or knew of Anne Whittacombe that our excellent teams of investigators are working incredibly hard with the aim of securing justice for her and her family.So please, if you have any information that you think might help us with this investigation, please contact the police.Thank you very much.

that was Lawrence Taylor there at New Scotland Yard giving a repeat really of the information that was sent to our man Mark White.Mark White, our Home and Schools Unit is down there in Devon for us.Mark White back to you.A repeat ostensibly of what you just read out to us but you know it still gets you Mark.The final sentence there, this is a murder investigation into the brutal murder of a 78 year old woman in her home alone.We forget, you know, this is the police investigation, but Anne Widdicombe was now confirmed by the police, brutally murdered in her own home as she was a lone mock.

Yes, and of course that was the statement delivered to camera by that head of counter -terrorism policing in the UK, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, but in that briefing to security journalistsa bit more in the way of details the fact that counter -terror command do absolutely believe that it was that there was an element of preparation, of planning involved.But they don't want to go beyond that, and for obvious reasons.This is a live investigation now.We have a suspect who is in custody, and it may be that in the fullness of time, there are charges, and this goes before the court.So you can absolutely understand the head of counterterrorism policing not want to do anything that cuts across what might be that twin criminal justice process at the end of the criminal investigation which is now of course a counter -terrorism investigation.

Some key lines though of course coming out as well as the the Commissioner said were multiple lines of active investigation, in which is a fast -paced investigation.He did also just address, I think, some of the controversy that there has been in the last day or so, as this switched from a murder inquiry to a counter -terrorism stroke murder inquiry.Just to say that, look, in these fast -paced investigations, there are often pieces of evidence that comelight that weren't necessarily apparent early on in the investigation that mean the circumstances can change and therefore, of course, the involvement of the likes of Counter Terror Command becomes a necessity and that's where we are at this stage.Also confirming, of course, the fact that they have sought an extension to the time that this suspect can be held in custody.is now detained for a further seven days.

They can be a terror suspect detained for a total of 14 days.But that seven days, that's going to give them more time, of course, to continue with what the Assistant Commissioner said was a very complex and fast -moving investigation with those multiple strands of inquiries that his expert detectives, expert in the field of counterterrorism guys soon.