When police announced counterterrorism detectives had taken over the inquiry into the suspected murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe on Monday, many reacted with confusion.
It marked a major twist in the probe into the attack on the 78-year-old Reform UK spokeswoman, whose death has led the news agenda since she was found with serious injuries in her remote Devon home last week.
Just over 24-hours earlier, police had all-but ruled out the possibility of the attack being terror-related, having repeatedly tried to steer the public away from the idea.
In a statement released shortly before midday on Sunday, Matt Longman, an assistant chief constable at Devon and Cornwall, insisted there was “still no information to suggest it was a terrorism related incident”.
He revealed they had arrested a 28-year-old suspect in the Rotherham area and said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack, adding that there was also “nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated”.
That was dramatically turned on its head on Monday after “new information and evidence came to light” and counter terror detectives took over, revealing they had rearrested the suspect on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism, told Times Radio that Devon and Cornwall Police “probably broke one of the golden rules of investigations”.
He added: “I don’t understand why Devon and Cornwall police were steering the public away from the idea that this was a terrorist case and I don’t know why they didn’t simply say they had an open mind as to the motivation.
“I think they probably broke one of the golden rules of investigations, which is not to comment on live investigations in case new facts emerge. So that aspect is slightly regrettable.”
Reform MPs have also hit out at the public dismissals about the motive behind the alleged attack on Ms Widdecombe, who was known for her strident religious and political views.
Richard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, told the Commons on Monday: “And would it be wise when considering motivation, when giving us early updates, to keep things open ended [in relation to] motive, as opposed to ruling things out too quickly that may then end up being ruled back in.”
Here is how the investigation unfolded:
Friday 10 July
Ann Widdecombe’s death was announced early on Friday morning. But as tributes flooded in, the public had no idea her death was being treated as suspicious.
Police were swarming the isolated bungalow in the idyllic village of Haytor, on Dartmoor, where she had been discovered with serious injuries at around 11.40am the day before. Initially, one theory was centred around whether the politician had been attacked in a burglary gone wrong, according to reports.
News of a murder probe broke that afternoon, with Devon and Cornwall Police confirming they were hunting a white male who was wanted in connection with her death.
By the time police held a press conference at 5.30pm, they had arrested a 26-year-old in nearby Newton Abbott.
ACC Longman told reporters the force had consulted with counterterrorism colleagues, but said the incident was not being treated as terrorism.
Saturday 11 July
Early on Saturday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they had released the 26-year-old, who was no longer a part of their investigation.
ACC Longman revealed the politician had been attacked at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, the day before she was found, as he called for people not to speculate about what might have happened.
Shortly after 9pm that night, officers from Counter Terror Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police were swooping on an address in Rotherham to arrest a 28-year-old suspect, although this was not announced to the public until almost midnight. He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Devon for questioning.
Sunday 12 July
Details of the fresh arrest were confirmed at a press conference in Exeter at 11am on Sunday.
ACC Longman told reporters: “At this point, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident. And at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder.
“We retain primacy of this investigation and detectives remain open minded about any potential motive, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.”
Monday 13 July
At 12.30pm, Counter Terrorism Policing South East announced they were now leading the investigation after “new information and evidence” had come to light, adding that the probe had been a “dynamic and complex investigation”.
They confirmed the suspect in custody had been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.”
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood later confirmed in the Commons that the suspect was not known to the government’s deradicalisation programme, Prevent.
