West Yorkshire police have announced that Thomas Mair, aged 52 and of Birstall, has been charged with the murder of Jo Cox MP. He has also been charged with other offences, including grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Saturday 18th June.
Initial eye witness accounts of the assault on Ms Cox suggested that she may have intervened to stop an altercation outside the library where she was holding her constituency surgery. However, later reports indicated that it was in fact she who was the target of the attack, which took place as she arrived at the library. Police have confirmed that she suffered gunshot injuries and knife wounds.
It has also been established that the 77 year old man who was injured in the same incident had gone to Ms Cox’s aid. He sustained a serious injury to his abdomen and remains in hospital in a series but stable condition.
It has emerged that Thomas Mair had a number of links with extreme right wing causes. Police also confirmed that he had a history of mental illness but that he had been seen by a medic and had been deemed fit to be questioned. Police are still exploring all lines of investigation.
A number of vigils were held last night in memory of Ms Cox. Chief among them were one in her constituency and one in Westminster, but there were other events around the country, many attended by MPs who had known her.
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