UK police say former minister Widdecombe's murder was a targeted attack

LONDON, July 14 - British counter-terrorism police said on Tuesday that former government minister Ann Widdecombe, who was found murdered at her home last week, was clearly targeted, adding that officers were still working to establish the motive.

"It is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation that sits behind that attack," Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Britain's counter terrorism policing, told reporters.

Local police arrested a white British man late on Saturday on suspicion of her murder. Counter-terrorism officers, who took over the investigation on Monday, have since rearrested him on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Widdecombe, 78, who was a prominent member of Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK, was found dead at her home in rural southwest England last Thursday with what police described as "serious injuries". She stood down from parliament in 2010.

The case has raised further concerns about the security of politicians in the country after two serving British members of parliament have been murdered in the last decade. REUTERS