Union flag flies at half mast from the Houses of Parliament in honour of slain Labour lawmaker Jo Cox, in London. (AFP Photo)
Highlights
- British lawmaker Jo Cox killed in daylight attack in her home town
- The British flag flew at half-mast over UK parliament in her honour
- Campaigning by pro and anti-Brexit groups suspended in light of her death
The British flag flew at half-mast over the UK parliament as the nation mourned lawmaker Jo Cox who was killed in
a shock daylight street attack in her home town in northern England on Thursday. The murder of the
pro-European Union lawmaker has halted campaigning for the referendum on Britain's membership in the bloc just a week before the crucial vote.
Ms Cox, a 41-year-old mother-of-two from the opposition Labour Party,
was shot in the face and stabbed multiple times in her constituency in Birstall near Leeds village. A 52-year-old man was arrested by officers nearby and a firearm was recovered.
Investigators are probing the motive of the murder amid eyewitness reports that the attacker shouted 'Britain First'. Jo Cox, like most Labour Leaders, was campaigning for Britain to remain in the United Kingdom during the referendum that is to be held on the 23rd of this month.
"This is a very significant investigation with a large number of witnesses that are being spoken to by the police at this time. A full investigation is underway to establish the motive for this murder," Dee Collins, Investigating Officer at West Yorkshire said.
Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of Labour lawmaker Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London. (AFP Photo)
As part of the mourning, pro- and anti-Brexit groups said
they were suspending all campaigning for Thursday and Friday ahead of the EU membership referendum.
"I campaigned for her once and I know that she was much loved. This is so shocking that a Parliamentarian was attacked in this manner," Keith Vaz, her colleague in the Labour Party and MP from Leicester said.
Prime Minister
David Cameron cancelled a planned rally during a historic but controversial visit to Gibraltar as part of his campaign for Britain to remain in the EU.
"She was a star, a very talented women with a big heart. It is such a tragic loss to our Parliament," said PM Cameron.
Leader of the Opposition and head of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn said "Her family will never see her again but will be proud of the tremendous work she did with a quest for a better world."