West Yorkshire MP Jo Cox has died following a gruesome attack in Birstall.
One eyewitness has been quoted saying they heard her attacker shout “put Britain first” at least twice beforehand.
The Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was left lying on the floor by her attacker, bleeding profusely from her wounds.
A 52-year-old man Tommy Mair, was arrested near Market Street, Birstall, West Yorkshire Police said.
The MP had been taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary, but she succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
It is understood the MP had held a surgery at Birstall Library before the attack.
Tommy Mair is believed to have sympathy with far right groups and his name appears to be linked to a South African patriot magazine which is a neo-Nazi publication.
Tommy Mair’s half-brother, 41-year-old Duane St Louis, speaking outside his house in Dewsbury, said he couldn’t believe the news.
“I was watching Sky News and I recognised him in handcuffs on the ground. It felt like a dream. I just couldn’t believe he’d do something like that,” he said. “I phoned my mum and she was watching too. She tried to phone his mobile but couldn’t get through and she knew something was up.” Mair last visited his mother on Wednesday night to help her tune her TV, he said.
St Louis said Mair had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): “He was obsessed with washing himself. He would scrub his skin with Brillo pads.”
He insisted his brother had never expressed any racist views and seemed fine having a mixed-race sibling. Neither did he have any strong political views that St Louis was aware of.
Mair had been volunteering for the past few years at a school for children with disabilities, he said.
Jo’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the country and prompted candle lit vigils and thousands of condolences coming in for her young family.
