Man charged with terrorism preparation in connection with Ann Widdecombe murder
Quick Look
- Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, has been charged with preparing terrorist acts between May 31 and July 8, 2024, in connection with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a Reform UK spokesperson and former Conservative minister who was killed with a hammer at her Devon home on July 9.
- Counter-terrorism police announced the charge following an intensive investigation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and spokesperson for Reform UK, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on July 9, having suffered 21 blows to the head with a hammer. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, was subsequently charged with her murder and with preparing terrorist acts between May 31 and July 8, 2024.
The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism including against Nigel Farage, police have said.
Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts. The charge relates to activity alleged to have taken place between 31 May 2024 and 8 July this year, counter-terrorism police said.
The senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said: “We have been running a hugely intensive and complex investigation for some time. The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network.
“This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.”
Kerry was due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, police said.
Widdecombe, 78, a spokesperson for Farage’s Reform UK party and a former Conservative minister, died in July after being hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, a court previously heard.
She was found lying face down on her kitchen floor by her gardener on the morning of 9 July and declared dead by emergency services shortly afterwards.
Kerry is accused of her murder. The suspect spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a hearing at Westminster magistrates court in July. He was not asked to indicate a plea.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Joshua Kerry will appear at Westminster magistrates court to face the terrorism preparation charge
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What was the nature of the alleged terrorist acts Joshua Kerry was preparing?
- Was there any connection between the terrorism preparation and the murder of Ann Widdecombe beyond temporal overlap?
- What motive, if any, is alleged for the murder?
- Were any co-conspirators identified in the investigation?
