UK Conservative MP David Amess dies after being stabbed

David Amess, member of Parliament from the Conservative Party in
the United Kingdom, died after being stabbed while meeting constituents on
Friday. According to initial reports in the British media, a man walked into
the constituency surgery meeting being hosted by Amess and stabbed him a number
of times. Amess was receiving treatment at the scene before he succumbed. 

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Essex police said that they
arrested a man following the stabbing and also recovered a knife from the
scene. Cops said they were not looking at anyone else in connection with the
case and there was no larger threat to the public. The suspect is being
held on suspicion of murder police said but did not release his name.

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The 69-year-old MP was holding a regular meeting with
constituents at the Belfairs Methodist Church at a residential area of
Leigh-on-Sea, about 62 kilometres east of London. Aerial footage from the scene
of the crime showed several ambulances and paramedics at the shot trying to
desperately save the MP’s life.

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Right before Ammes’ death was announced, John Lamb, a local
councillor said that Amess hadn’t been taken to a hospital for more than two
hours after the attack and the situation was “extremely serious”.

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David Ammes had been a member of Parliament for Southend West
since 1997. An animal rights activist, Ammes was also well-known for his ceaseless
campaign to declare Southend a city.  

His death saw politicians from across the spectrum express shock
and sorrow. Carrie Johnson, wife of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wrote on Twitter:
“Absolutely devastating news about Sir David Amess. He was hugely kind and
good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent. This is so completely unjust.
Thoughts are with his wife and children.”

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Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister of the Scottish National
Party, tweeted: “Elected
representatives from across the political spectrum will be united in sadness
and shock today. In a democracy, politicians must be accessible and open to
scrutiny, but no-one deserves to have their life taken while working for and
representing their constituents.”