Ann Widdecombe Was Killed in ‘Targeted Attack,’ UK Police Say

The British police on Tuesday said that Ann Widdecombe, a right-wing politician who was killed last week, had been the victim of a “targeted attack.”

Ms. Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor, southwestern England, on Thursday, having sustained serious injuries.

A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, a town in northern England, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday. On Monday, the police said they were also holding him “on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.”

In a briefing to the news media on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of British counterterrorism policing, said that the 28-year-old man could be held for a total of seven days before being released or charged.

“It is clear that this was a targeted attack,” the assistant commissioner said, adding that there had been “some preparation and planning” to the assault, without giving any further details. “We are working through what the motivation for this attack is,” he added.

Ms. Widdecombe served as a minister in the Conservative government of John Major in the 1990s. More recently, she had become a prominent member of Reform U.K., the populist right-wing party led by Nigel Farage, a pro-Brexit campaigner.

Asked why counterterrorism police had taken over the investigation days after officers had said there was no evidence of a political motive, Assistant Commissioner Taylor said that new information had come to light.

Describing the case as complex, he said, “New information will emerge as officers progress those inquiries,” adding that one line of investigation was whether other politicians linked to the Reform party had been targeted.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.