Man charged with murder of Sir David Amess MP – killing believed to have ‘religious motivation’
A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.
Ali Harbi Ali has also been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts after the MP died from “serious injuries” at the Essex church he was holding a routine constituency surgery at last Friday, Met Police assistant commissioner for special operations Matt Jukes said.
Ali, from north London, remains in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon to face the charges.
David Amess was fatally stabbed last week
Nick Price, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We will submit to the court that this murder has a terrorist connection, namely that it had both religious and ideological motivations.
“He has also been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts. This follows a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.”
No other arrests have been made during the extensive investigation that has seen a large team of detectives working “around the clock”, Mr Jukes said.
He added that a number of London addresses have been searched, digital devices scoured and a “painstaking” review of CCTV footage has taken place.
Counter-terror police are not seeking anybody else in connection with Sir David’s murder.
Mr Jukes thanked witnesses and members of the public for their help during the investigation and said if anybody has any information, no matter how small, they should contact counter-terror police as “every piece of information is important”.
He added: “I understand the huge level of public interest in this case, but now a charge has been brought, it is vitally important that everyone exercises restraint when commenting on it publicly, to ensure future court proceedings are not prejudiced in any way.”
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Police announce charges
He said the Met Police have been working closely with parliament’s security team and the Home Office to review security for MPs in the wake of the stabbing and police forces across the country have been working with their local MPs on specific arrangements.
Sir David, who represented Southend West in Essex, was stabbed to death last Friday as he was meeting his constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
The 69-year-old had been MP for Southend West for 38 years and first entered parliament in 1983, and leaves behind his wife Julia and their five children.
Flowers and tributes at the scene near Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea
Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Sir David as “one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics” and paid tribute to his “outstanding” campaigning work on endometriosis, animal cruelty and fuel poverty.
“David was a man who believed passionately in this country and its future,” Mr Johnson said. “We’ve lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described a “dark and shocking day” as he urged people to “come together in response to these horrendous events”.
Sir David sat on a number of Commons committees during his time in Westminster and also sponsored many parliamentary bills – many focused on his keen interest in animal welfare and his ambition to eliminate fuel poverty.
From a humble background, he was raised a Catholic in London’s East End.
Former RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner James Lee Williams, known as The Vivienne, has died at the age of 32.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.
“James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person.
“Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career.
“We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage said she was “utterly heartbroken” by the news.
Sharing photos of herself with The Vivienne, she said: “I don’t know how to say how I feel. My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK.
“You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all.”
She added: “I love you my darling. You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever.”
The Vivienne had risen to prominence in 2015 after becoming the UK Drag Ambassador for the American series of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The show sees drag queens competing in front of a panel of judges to become the next drag superstar.
The Vivienne later competed in the first UK series of the show in 2019, going on to win it after lip-syncing in the final to the Wham! hit I’m Your Man.
Their drag name came from their love of designer Vivienne Westwood.
Williams, who was born in Wales, also came third on the 2023 series of Dancing On Ice.
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A host of celebrities and co-stars have paid tribute on social media, with former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts writing: “Omg! I can’t believe this. This is heartbreaking news.”
Shea Coulee, who won the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, said: “I am in complete and utter shock. This is so devastating.”
Another Drag Race star, Bimini Bon Boulash, wrote: “I’m so sorry. I’m in total shock.”
Williams’s publicist Simon Jones also described their “immense talent” and “comic genius and quick wit”.
Mr Jones wrote on Instagram: “These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much.
“From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager. Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No-one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.”
He said he was “heartbroken and devastated” by the news, adding: “RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”
Mindy Kaling has praised the Duchess of Sussex’s culinary skills and said Prince Harry is “a pretty good cook” too.
The 45-year-old actress is a special guest on the royal’s forthcoming Netflix show – With Love, Meghan – which the streamer says “reimagines the genre of lifestyle”.
Kaling, who has three children – Katherine, seven, Spencer, four, and Anne, 11 months, told Deadline on the Golden Globes red carpet: “I was just in my maternity leave and Meghan texted me and said, ‘Hey do you want to come be in my show and come to Montecito and have me cook for you?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah that sounds perfect, I would love to do that’.”
She went on to shower praise on Meghan’s skills in the kitchen, saying: “I think of myself as kind of an okay cook, but she unsurprisingly blew me out of the water.
“The thing about her recipes and being there was that it was just really accessible. She has a garden from scratch which I could never do, and chickens. They would probably all die if I tried to take care of chickens.”
When asked about the Duke of Sussex, Kaling said: “Harry was there, but he didn’t cook for me. But I hear he’s actually a pretty good cook. He knows his way around a kitchen.”
Kaling on the Golden Globes red carpet. Pic: AP
Meghan announced her new show by returning to Instagram after four years away, posting a black and white video of her on a beach on New Year’s Day and writing 2025 in the sand with her finger.
She followed it up the next day with the trailer for the show, with the message: “I have been so excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it.”
Split into eight half-an-hour shows, other special guests include chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters.
Kaling was at the Golden Globes on Sunday night presenting an award alongside Kate Hudson, who stars in her upcoming Netflix show Running Point, about an LA basketball team.
She is also a producer on the Oscar-shortlisted short film Anuja, about two young sisters working in a New Delhi sweatshop.
With Love, Meghan streams on Netflix from 15 January.
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