Sir David Amess murder suspect had considered killing other MPs, the Telegraph understands
Sir David Amess murder suspect had considered killing other MPs, the Telegraph understands
The investigation into the tragic death of the MP suggests he was not specifically targeted, but may have been picked at random
The investigation into the tragic death of Amess suggests he was not specifically targeted, but picked at random as part of a plot to kill any national politician.
Ali was seen using his mobile phone moments after the murder, according to sources. The Telegraph has not been able to establish whether the phone was used to record comments after the attack - including identifying with a particular terrorist organisation - or to send a message to a third party.
The actions, seen by witnesses in the room, though, are understood to be at the centre of why investigators labelled the attack a “terror incident” within hours of the murder.
According to sources, he said nothing of note during the attack, but then picked up his phone before his arrest.
Reports had initially suggested the right wing Tory politician, who was MP for Southend West, had been selected because of his values, views or religion. There had been claims that Amess’s devout Catholicism had been a factor, but those were scotched last night. Police and intelligence officials now believe he was stabbed to death simply because his alleged killer had succeeded in booking a face-to-face appointment as part of an indiscriminate and chilling attack on democracy.
The Telegraph understands sources close to the investigation believe
Ali may have considered killing other MPs, including Labour and Tory politicians, before picking Amess. Preliminary investigations will end any speculation that there was a specific motive for Amess to be killed.
It is unclear if Amess was chosen after posting on Twitter details of the time and place of his Friday lunchtime constituency surgery. Ali made a booking to see Amess a week before the MP was stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack.
The alleged killer has
no known connections to Leigh-on-Sea or to Amess, authorities have now concluded. He grew up in Croydon in south London and was living in Kentish Town in north London.
Police and security services believe the motivation may have been to strike down an MP to further the Islamist cause espoused by groups such as al-Qaeda, Islamic State and al-Shabab, which is active in Somalia. Ali himself was born in the UK and it is not thought he had made any recent trips to either Somalia or nearby Kenya, where al-Shabab also has a strong base. Nothing has been flagged on travel databases while travel to east Africa during the Covid pandemic has been difficult and may have raised concerns among authorities.