Ann Widdecombe murder suspect charged with planning terror act against Nigel Farage

The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism including against Nigel Farage, police have said.Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts. The charge relates to activity alleged to have taken place between 31 May 2024 and 8 July this year, counter-terrorism police said.The senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said: “We have been running a hugely intensive and complex investigation for some time. The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network.“This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.”Kerry was due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, police said.The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the charge raised “serious questions” about the security of MPs.She wrote on X: “I know the new charges made today will be extremely concerning. My profound sympathies are with Nigel Farage and his family.“Let no one make any mistake: an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all.“This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life. We must use this as an opportunity to reset. Once parliament returns, I will update on our work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve.”Widdecombe, 78, a spokesperson for Farage’s Reform UK party and a former Conservative minister, died in July after being hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, a court previously heard.She was found lying face down on her kitchen floor by her gardener on the morning of 9 July and declared dead by emergency services shortly afterwards.Kerry is accused of her murder. The suspect spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a hearing at Westminster magistrates court in July. He was not asked to indicate a plea.Olivia Field, the chief executive of the Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up in honour of the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016 in West Yorkshire, said: “No one in public life should have to fear for their safety.“Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endanger individuals and their families, but threaten our democracy and have no place in public life.“We must do more to prevent the rising levels of abuse and intimidation in politics. That means looking across society – from education and political literacy to the safety of online environments – alongside ensuring that appropriate security and support are in place for politicians, their staff and families.”In August, CTP reopened a year-long investigation into an alleged firebomb attack at Farage’s home in south London.The Metropolitan police and CTP London said they investigated the incident as an “attempted burglary” but made no arrests before the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.Following its reopening, CTP London identified a line of inquiry that it said “may have been relevant” but had not been “identified and pursued by them at the time”.