Fear grows in Somali community in UK after MP’s murder

Sir David who had been an MP since 1983 becomes the second serving member of UK parliament to be killed in the past five years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

News Keydmedia Online
20 October 2021

LONDON, UK - The Somali community in the UK are in shock and panic following the murder of the Conservative MP Sir David Amess at his constituency surgery in Essex last Friday.

The fear has reached such a crescendo after the police said a 25-year-old a Somali-British was arrested on suspicion of the lawmaker's killing at a church in Leigh-on-Sea by a knife.

The Police are quesioning Ali Harbi Ali, the suspect in the murder, and confiscated his father's mobile phone, which created further concerns as the community fear of possible retaliation.

The supect's father Harbi Ali Kullane is a former Director of Media and Communication at the Office of The Prime Minister of Somalia, serving under Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke.

 Speaking to the media after the news of Amess's murder has surfaced, Kullane said he was “traumatized” by his son’s arrest, as police continue questioning him under terrorism laws.

David who had been an MP since 1983 becomes the second serving member of UK parliament to be killed in the past 5 years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

In response to Reuters request for comments, the father declined to speak on the matter as it is under police investigation. He said his family is facing the most difficult days of their life.

Some Somalis in the UK said they received death threats from unknown indivituals, which have caused a great deal of consternation, and they reported this to the police for protection.

Sir David, who represented Southend West died after being stabbed multiple times by knife weilding man while holding a meeting at Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North.

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