UK Conservative MP David Amess dies after being stabbed multiple times at constituency meet

London, United Kingdom:  British Conservative MP David Amess has died after being stabbed at an event in his local constituency in southeast England, British media said Friday. British MP David Amess was on Friday stabbed “multiple times” during an event in his local constituency in southeast England, Sky News and the BBC reported. The pro-Brexit Conservative MP, 69, a father-of-five first elected to parliament in 1983, was attacked inside a church while holding a fortnightly consultation with his local constituents in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London. Local police did not name Amess but confirmed that officers “were called to reports of a stabbing” shortly after 12.05 pm (1105 GMT). “A man was arrested shortly after and we’re not looking for anyone else,” the force said on Twitter. Sky News and the BBC identified the victim as the 69-year-old politician, from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party. Amess was holding a his regular weekly meeting with constituents at the Belfairs Methodist Church, in the small town of Leigh-on-Sea. He had advertised the event on his official Twitter account. There was no immediate comment from Johnson, who was leading an away-day for senior ministers in the west of England. But David Cameron, one of his Tory predecessors in Downing Street, said: “Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea. “My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family.” Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer called the news “horrific and deeply shocking”. An eye-witness, identified only as Anthony, told radio station LBC that the scene was “completely and utterly swamped by police, ambulance, armed police. “I saw someone get taken out the building, put into the back of a police car. Apparently he was stabbed quite a few times.” Other British MPs have been attacked at similar constituency events, including Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 in the run-up to the Brexit referendum. The Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up in her memory, tweeted that it was “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,” it added. Labour MP Stephen Timms was stabbed multiple times during an event in 2010, but recovered from “potentially life-threatening injuries and is still an MP. Timms said he was “appalled” at the latest attack. In January 2000, Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was injured and his assistant killed by a man wielding a ceremonial sword at a constituency surgery in Cheltenham, western England. Incident shocks UK politicians This is the second death of a UK politician while meeting voters since 2016. Essex police said a 25-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered at the scene. They said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Flags were lowered to half-mast outside parliament and tributes poured in from across the political spectrum for Amess, whose death came just over five years after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right extremist. In a book last year called “Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster”, Amess noted that Cox’s death had prompted new security guidance to MPs which threatened to limit their access to constituents. “I myself have over the years experienced nuisance from the odd member of the general public at my own property,” he wrote. “These increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson was chairing a meeting with senior ministers in the west of England but promptly returned to London following news of the incident. “The reason I think people are so shocked and saddened is above all he was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics,” he said of Amess, calling him “a much-loved friend and colleague” and “a fine public servant”. Former prime minister Theresa May said it was “a tragic day for our democracy”. “A decent man and respected parliamentarian, killed in his own community while carrying out his public duties,” she added. Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer called the news “horrific and deeply shocking”, while House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said Amess had “built a reputation for kindness” during his long career as an MP. Security review “In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine MPs’ security and any measures to be taken, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family, friends and colleagues,” Hoyle added. In January 2000, Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was wounded and his assistant killed by a man wielding a ceremonial sword at a constituency “surgery”. Pro-EU MP Cox was killed in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, while another Labour MP, Stephen Timms, was stabbed multiple times during an event in 2010 but recovered and is still a lawmaker. Timms said he was “appalled” at this latest attack. Cox’s widower Brendan said the stabbing of Amess was “as cowardly as it gets”. “Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself. There is no excuse, no justification,” he said. Armed response  Essex police said officers arrived at the scene to find a man injured. “He was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene,” the force said. Amess was first elected during Margaret Thatcher’s tenure and known for his advocacy of animal welfare and pro-life issues. Paul Gardiner, 41, a barber at One Barbers Leigh-On-Sea, told AFP that “armed police and an ambulance” were swiftly on the scene. “I saw a policeman with a gun,” he said. “It was worrying.” Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith echoed concerns about the security risk at MPs’ local “surgeries”. “When you’re not in your office, and you’re in a public place… that means essentially, that the levels of security that sometimes you’re advised to take can’t be taken,” he tweeted. With inputs from AFP