A CONSERVATIVE MP has been stabbed "several times" this afternoon - and a man has been arrested. 

The MP for Southend West, Sir David Amess was stabbed in his consituency of Southend West at around midday on Friday (October 15).

The MP had been holding a surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church when the incident happened in Eastwood Road North in Leigh-on-Sea.

This afternoon, Essex Police confirmed that a man had been arrested following the incident, but provided no further update.

According to the News Shopper, a huge emergency presence has been spotted in the area nearby, alongside a police helicopter overhead.

The 69-year-old MP is a huge member of the Make Southend a City campaign, first for Basildon and since 1997 for Southend West.

Witnesses describe this afternoon

One witness called the incident “very distressing” and described seeing someone being taken out of the building and put into the back of a police car, before he was asked to leave the area.

“At that point obviously we knew something serious had happened,” he told LBC.

“Within five minutes we’d been informed by someone who was actually in the building what had happened and apparently he (Sir David Amess) had been stabbed quite a few times. It‘s very distressing that’s for sure.”

He added: “It’s a nice area… it’s not something that you’d see happening round this area that’s for sure.

“It’s just a residential street with a Methodist church on the road and you don’t often hear of things like this going on down this way.

“To have it next door to where you’re working is obviously very upsetting and very unlike what it’s like round here. It’s very odd and it’s very distressing, that’s for sure.”

Police statement in full

In a statement, Essex Police said officers arrived at the scene in Eastwood Road North shortly after 12.05pm and arrested a man.

The statement said: “We were called to reports of a stabbing in Eastwood Road North, #LeighonSea shortly after 12.05pm today (Friday 15 October).

“Officers were on scene shortly after, arrested a man and recovered a knife. He is currently in custody.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public.

“We want to thank the public who alerted us to the incident so quickly.

“We need anyone who saw anything or has CCTV, dash cam or doorbell footage to contact us. If you have any information you can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

“Please quote incident 445 of 15 October. You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Support from the region's MPs

The news has led to fellow colleagues offering their support, with Darlington MP Peter Gibson and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen among those tweeting this afternoon.

The Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up following the death of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox, tweeted that it was "horrified" to hear of the news. 

They said: "The Jo Cox Foundation is horrified to hear the news of the attack on Sir David Amess MP. We are thinking of him, his family and loved ones at this distressing time."

More to follow

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