Johnson from the UK pays tribute to lawmaker Amess, dedicated and passionate

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LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed tributes Monday to “dedicated and passionate” David Amess, a veteran lawmaker who was stabbed to death while meeting with members of the public in an attack that has raised concerns for the safety of politicians. .

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Amess, 69, was stabbed in a church on Friday in Leigh-on-Sea, east London. At the scene, police arrested the 25-year-old son of a former media adviser to a former Somali prime minister. Remain detained.

They are treating the attack, which Johnson described as a “despicable act of violence,” as potential terrorism.

Amess was the second British lawmaker to be killed in five years and lawmakers from across the political spectrum, some struggling to hold back tears, paid tribute to a man they described as a kind, funny and dedicated public servant.

“We will not allow the manner of Sir David’s death to detract from his achievements as a politician or as a human being,” Johnson, dressed in a black tie, told a packed House of Commons, which earlier observed a minute’s silence.

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“David was a patriot who passionately believed in this country, its people, its future. He was also one of the nicest, kindest, and most gracious people to ever grace these benches. “

To cheers, Johnson announced that the town of Southend-on-Sea in the Amess constituency would become a town in his honor.

r, a cause he had championed.

After two hours of tributes in parliament, lawmakers will attend a memorial service at St. Margaret’s Church for the father of five, who had been a member of parliament for nearly 40 years.

“There are tears on all sides of the chamber this afternoon,” said opposition Labor lawmaker Harriet Harman, the longest-serving member of parliament.

The Amess family, who visited the scene of his murder, said he was a patriot and a man of peace.

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“So we ask people to put aside their differences and show kindness and love to everyone. This is the only way forward. Let’s put aside hatred and work for unity, ”they said.

Many colleagues recalled times Amess had made them laugh, including how the devout Catholic once had a boiled sweet blessed by the Pope after pulling it out of his pocket as the wrong time.

“The Pope took the candy thinking it was a venerated object to be blessed, he blessed the venerated object and David had to put it in his pocket, a sacred candy,” said legislator James Duddridge.

The Amess murder has raised questions about the safety of politicians and what needs to be done to address the growing problem of online abuse.

“Today is an opportunity to remember David, but in the days and weeks to come we must finally confront the threats and violence that people face as we enact democracy in this country,” said Labor leader Keir Starmer.

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“A cowardly attack on a public servant doing his job is an attack on our country and our way of life … our response must always be to show that we will never be intimidated.”

Johnson’s spokesman said police had contacted members of parliament to review security.

Detectives are questioning suspect Ali Harbi Ali, a British citizen, under anti-terrorism laws, looking for a possible link to Islamist extremism. The agents are also registering properties in and around London.

Ali had been referred to an anti-radicalization program known as Prevent, the BBC said. But it was not of formal interest to the MI5 national security agency.

Amess was also chairman of the multi-party committee that promoted good ties between Britain and Qatar, and the Times newspaper said detectives were looking at this link. Amess had visited Qatar last week.

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Police warned of the danger posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of radicalization, as vulnerable people spent more time online, potentially exposed to extremist material.

Labor lawmaker Chris Bryant said he had received a death threat after urging people to share “a kind message on Twitter today to a politician we disagree with” following the Amess assassination.

Police arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of malicious communications.

“Let’s have a more pleasant language. Let’s have our differences, and that’s important … but what I don’t want is hatred and evil, “Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, told Sky. “Today is a starting point where we can change the face of politics.”