Jo Cox murder probe focuses on suspect’s far-right links, say police

Mair has been charged with “murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense and possession of an offensive weapon”, for the fatal attack.

Police say they believe it was a “targeted” attack and are investigating a suspect’s possible right-wing extremist motives as well as mental health issues. Moments before the attack on Cox, Kenny stopped his vehicle to drop off his wife at Birstall Library when he recognized Cox.

Meanwhile, an aide told of how mother-of two Mrs Cox’s last words as she lay bleeding in the street were “my pain is too much”.

“We are aware of the speculation within the media in respect (to) the suspect’s link to mental health services and this is a clear line of inquiry which we are pursuing”, police said.

‘Let us pledge to honour her memory every day by building a world where there is more love and less hate, ‘ Mr Miliband said.

“Helpful when you wanted it, kept himself to himself”, she said, adding he is “very neat and tidy”.

Britain First, a far-right nationalist group, denied any links with the man but a USA civil rights group said he had been associated with a neo-Nazi organisation.

The center released copies of receipts and a 2013 subscription to the National Alliance’s publication National Vanguard as well as receipts from 1999 showing purchases for the neo-Nazi book “Ich Kampfe”, the “Improvised Munitions Handbook” and other books.

Heidi C. Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center said Mair had been a supporter of the National Alliance, “the most unsafe and violent neo-Nazi group in the United States for decades”.

“I don’t think any of us want to put up barriers to people coming to see us”, said Stephen Timms, another London lawmaker who has maintained open surgeries despite almost being killed at one in 2010.

His brother Scott has spoken of his shock at what happened, claiming Mair is “not a violent man and is not that political”.

“I know MPs are scared”, said Dan Jarvis, Labour member of Parliament.

An eyewitness to the killing said he heard the attacker shout “put Britain first”.

But it is still to early to know what exactly motivated the attack, which came as the 41-year-old lawmaker campaigned for “Stronger In”, a slogan backing the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union in a referendum to be held next week.

Mrs Cox lived with her husband and their two children, aged three and five, on a houseboat moored on the River Thames in London, close to the city’s iconic Tower Bridge.

British voters will be asked to decide whether to keep their country in the 28-nation bloc on Thursday. Anti-EU campaigners have argued that leaving the EU would allow Britain to curtail immigration.

With only a week until a referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union, which has split the country in two and sparked fiery debate on both sides, Cameron said it was time to “stand back”. “It has been revealed that Jo contacted police on several occasions over threats made to her before her murder”.

Crowds gathered for vigils in Birstall and in London’s Parliament Square to pay tribute to Cox.

Rows of police combed the sidewalks around the site of the attack outside the library in Birstall. One was quoted anonymously in the Sunday Times last month saying: “I don’t want to stab the Prime Minister in the back – I want to stab him in the front so I can see the expression on his face. I was half expecting to see her here today, because that’s how your brain plays tricks on you”, she said.

Violence against British politicians has been rare since Northern Ireland’s peace deal two decades ago.

She was the first British MP to be murdered since Ian Gow was killed by Irish Republican Army paramilitaries in a vehicle bomb in 1990.

The attack has raised security concerns for other members of Parliament who routinely meet with constituents in public meetings.

“We have lost a great star”, said Cameron, who called the referendum.