‍The Metropolitan police have declared the stabbing of Sir David Amess a terrorist incident. The 69 year old Tory MP; who had served in that capacity since 1983 was fatally injured while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend at midday on Friday.

Police officers and paramedics tried to save him but he died at the scene. A 25-year-old man - understood to be a Britain with Somali heritage; was arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

Speaking on the issue, the Met said that the early investigation had revealed "a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism".

The force believes the man, who is in custody in Essex, acted alone but inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are continuing.

Officers are carrying out searches at two addresses in the London area and are not seeking anyone else over the death.

However, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner; Dean Haydon declared the incident as terrorism.

Home Secretary Priti Patel paid tribute to Sir David; calling him a "man of the people" who was "killed doing a job he loved".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid flowers at the scene together on Saturday morning.

Ms Patel and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also paid their respects outside Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.