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British prosecutors announced terrorism charges Friday against a 28-year-old man already in custody for the murder of a conservative politician.
The Crown Prosecution Service charged Joshua Kerry of South Yorkshire with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, accusing him of “engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage MP.”
Kerry has been in the custody of His Majesty’s government since late July, after he was arrested and accused of murdering former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.
Prosecutors say Widdecombe was eating lunch in her Devon home on July 8, when Kerry allegedly walked through the front door, beat her 21 times in the head with a hammer, took her wallet and was gone in an attack that lasted only two minutes.
Former British member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe was killed in her Devon home on July 8. (John Sibley/Reuters, File)
Authorities say the latest charges against Kerry are related to events that took place between May 31 and July 8.
In a statement, Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said: “The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counterterrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of inquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.”
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, posting on X, called the new charges against Kerry “extremely concerning” and sent her “profound sympathies” to the Farage family. She added that “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.”
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A UK man is accused of “engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage MP.” (Martin Pope/Getty Images, File)
The Jo Cox Foundation, set up in honor of the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, said in a statement, “No one in public life should have to fear for their safety. Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endangered 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.”
Kerry is due back at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Separately on Friday, Counterterrorism Policing also announced charges against two Iranian men accused of plotting “to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area.”
The Crown Prosecution Service charged 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan and 34-year-old Rahman Salehi with “engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006,” alleging that two men were “in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot.”
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A prison van arrives at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 21 in London, where Joshua Kerry is due to appear charged with the murder of MP Ann Widdecombe. (Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Evans called the charges “extremely serious” while reiterating that “we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter.”
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Evans noted the alleged plot comes during the High Holy Day period and “coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing anti-Semitic incidents across the UK.”
Ahmadyan and Salehi have been remanded and are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
’ Thomas Ferraro and Stephanie Bennett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
