Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, after officials say new information and evidence has emerged. Multiple outlets report that the change in lead investigators follows the death of the 78-year-old, who is described as having been found at her home in rural southwest England. Police said she had “serious injuries.”
British interior minister Shabana Mahmood is cited as saying counter-terrorism officers have taken over the probe into what is treated as a suspected murder. The reports also describe that an arrest has been made: a white British man was detained in Rotherham, northern England, late on Saturday, with further details varying by outlet. Some coverage frames the matter as “murder,” while others refer more generally to the investigation shifting to terror police following “fresh” or “new” evidence.
Across sources, the central points are the death in Devon, the presence of serious injuries, the subsequent arrest of a suspect, and the formal transfer of the investigation to Counter Terrorism Policing.
