Tearful Labour Party colleagues laid flowers outside the British parliament yesterday in memory of pro-EU lawmaker Jo Cox, hours after she was killed in a shock attack in Yorkshire.
Dozens of people gathered next to a large picture of the 41-year-old former charity worker, who was known for campaigning for the European Union and refugee rights, lighting candles and leaving bouquets.
Members of the Labour Party were joined by human rights activists to mourn Cox, the first British MP to be killed in office since Ian Gow was killed by a car bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army in 1990.
She was left bleeding on the pavement after reportedly being shot and stabbed in the village of Birstall in northern England, according to witnesses quoted by media.
“What’s happened is beyond appalling. We are here in silent memory of her loss,” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said as rain began to fall.
“This is a shocking occasion and I hope everybody realises hatred will never solve problems. Only people coming together will solve problems,” he said.
“We are suspending all campaigning activities until the weekend as a mark of respect for her,” he said, referring to the tense run-up to Britain’s European Union membership referendum next week.
Fatima Ibrahim, a 23-year-old campaigner with human rights group Avaaz, which helped organise the protest, said she was “devastated”. Page 9