Sir David Amess: Ali Harbi Ali accused of murder of deputy

A 25-year-old man was charged with murder and preparing terrorist acts after the fatal stabbing of Congressman Sir David Amess.

Ali Harbi Ali was arrested on Friday following the attack on an operation at a constituency in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Sir David, a Conservative MP since 1983, suffered several stab wounds and died instantly.

Mr Ali is a British man of Somali origin whose father is a former adviser to the Somali prime minister.

Nick Price, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We will submit to the court that this murder has a terrorist connection, that is to say that it had both religious and ideological motivations.”

Mr. Ali, from North London, is still in custody and is expected to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.

Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Matt Jukes sent his “deepest condolences” to the congressman’s family, friends and colleagues.

“Sir David’s dedication to his family, his constituents and his community, and his positive impact on the lives of so many has been abundantly clear since his death,” he said.

There have been no further arrests and the police are not looking for anyone else, Jukes added.