Sir David Amess: Ali Harbi Ali in court charged with terror-related murder of Conservative MP

A 25-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the terrorism-related murder of MP Sir David Amess.

Ali Harbi Ali, from London, has been charged with murder and preparing acts of terrorism, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Thursday.

The Conservative MP for Southend West was fatally stabbed on Friday during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.

Ali, who appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, wore a grey tracksuit and thick-rimmed black glasses and smiled to his legal team as he entered the court.

He then sat silently throughout the hearing, only speaking to confirm his name, age, and address.

The hearing lasted for just over 13 minutes.

Earlier Nick Price, of the CPS, had said: “We will submit to the court that this murder has a terrorist connection, namely that it had both religious and ideological motivations.”

On Monday, Parliament paid tribute to Sir David as it was announced that Southend would be granted city status, in recognition of his decades-long campaign for the seaside town to be given the honour.

Two-minute silence to be held to mark week since Sir David’s death

A two-minute silence will be held in Southend on Friday to mark a week since his death.

Local councillor Alan Dear said the mood in Southend was “still one of shock”.

Mr Dear said that shopkeepers in Eastwood Road North have organised a two-minute silence to take place near the Woodcutters Arms pub, a short distance from the church, at midday on Friday.

The church is to remain closed for two weeks, an announcement on its website said.

Floral tributes to Sir David which had piled up outside the church hall have since been moved to his constituency office, Iveagh Hall.

John Lamb, councillor for West Leigh ward, said that a further two-minute silence may be held at Iveagh Hall.

He said: “Everyone you talk to will tell you when he spoke to them how nice he was, and literally how he was always talking to them about how they were and how’s their family.”

Ian Gilbert, Labour leader of the council, said that tributes to Sir David would be read out at the authority’s full council meeting on Thursday.

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