Police arrest 28-year-old suspect in Ann Widdecombe murder case

British police arrested a 28-year-old man late Saturday over the murder of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe.

The arrest came hours after officers released a 26-year-old man who had been detained a day earlier. Widdecombe, 78, was found dead with serious injuries at her Devon home on Thursday.

Who has been arrested for Ann Widdecombe's murder?

Devon and Cornwall Police arrested a 28-year-old man at an address in South Yorkshire on Saturday evening on suspicion of murder. The force said the suspect is a white British national and is now in custody. Widdecombe's family has been informed of the arrest, and detectives are continuing their enquiries into the case.

How did Ann Widdecombe die?

Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries at her home in Devon, southwest England, on Thursday. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said investigators believe she was attacked roughly 24 hours before her body was discovered. He said the attack likely took place on Wednesday, July 8, at around 12:30pm, and that police had been searching for a white male suspect since then.

Is Ann Widdecombe's death being treated as terrorism?

Police have said there is no information to suggest the killing was terrorism related, and Devon and Cornwall Police retain primacy over the investigation. Longman said on Friday that he had no information indicating a politically motivated crime. Detectives said they remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Who was Ann Widdecombe?

Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 and was known for her Christian faith and outspoken views. As prisons minister in 1995, she was embroiled in controversy over a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to prevent escape. A committed Brexit supporter, she left the Conservative Party in 2019 to join Nigel Farage's hard-right party.

What has Nigel Farage said about the case?

Farage called Widdecombe's death "a terrible reflection on modern Britain" in a video posted to social media on Friday. He said he fears public life, and politics in particular, has become more dangerous. Police, meanwhile, say the investigation is ongoing and further updates are expected as enquiries continue.