David Amess stabbing: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer visit scene in Leigh-on-Sea

The man arrested is believed to be a British nationwide with Somali heritage, official sources have instructed UK information company PA Media. The UK's Counter Terrorism Command is main the investigation into the killing, police mentioned Friday.

A somber-looking Johnson carried a wreath of pale roses Saturday morning to depart in entrance of the church the place Amess was attacked.

Speaking shortly afterward, Patel paid tribute to Amess as "a man of the people" and passionate advocate for the folks he represented.

"He was killed doing a job that he loved, serving his own constituents as an elected democratic member," she mentioned. "And of course, acts of this (kind) are absolutely wrong and we cannot let that get in the way of our functioning democracy."

Patel mentioned she had been in discussions with the Commons speaker, police and safety providers to "make sure measures are being put in place for the security of MPs, so that they can carry on with their duties as elected democratic members."

MPs in Britain usually meet with residents in their constituencies head to head throughout "surgeries," and it's unusual for them to have a safety element.

Measures to safeguard MPs are at all times being checked out and have been beneath overview in the previous 24 hours, Patel mentioned.

She insisted that the democratic want for parliamentarians to be accessible to the folks "can absolutely be balanced" with the necessity to guarantee their security, and that lawmakers "cannot be cowed by any individual" as they serve.

Veteran UK Labour lawmaker Harriet Harman known as Saturday for a Speaker's Conference in Parliament to debate and overview the security of MPs.

"We cannot have the death of an MP being a price worth paying for our democracy," Harman mentioned on BBC Radio 4's Today program. "I don't think anybody wants to go to a situation where the police are vetting individual constituents who come and see us, but I'm sure there is a safer way to go about our business."

'Huge nervousness' amongst lawmakers

"Until the Home Secretary's review of MP security is complete I would recommend a temporary PAUSE in face to face meetings," he mentioned.

Police officers from native forces might be contacting each UK lawmaker to debate their safety preparations following Amess' homicide, a National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman instructed CNN on Saturday.

"They will also speak to MPs about security arrangements for any events they are planning to attend in the coming days, so the appropriate advice can be provided," the spokesman mentioned in a press release.

This might be achieved beneath Operation Bridger, a nationwide police operation which gives recommendation to all Members of Parliament and their constituency groups on request.

"We encourage MPs to immediately report any security concerns to their local police force in order to keep themselves, their staff and members of the public attending surgeries safe," the spokesman mentioned.

Johnson: 'We misplaced a nice public servant'

The nation's political, spiritual and societal leaders, and its royal household, all condemned Friday's assault and paid tribute to Amess.

Those who knew him described Amess -- who was married with 5 kids -- as a devoted native consultant, deeply embedded inside his neighborhood and uninterested in the careerism of nationwide politics.

Mosques in Southend-on-Sea, the bigger resort city bordering Leigh-on-Sea, on Saturday condemned Amess' killing as an "indefensible atrocity."

A vigil was held Friday night at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Leigh-on-Sea for native folks to pay tribute to Amess.

"Everyone was just speechless. It was just awful. He was just such a kind, gentle soul, really witty, quite quirky and liked by a lot of people, and it was just shocking. Absolutely shocking," native resident Melanie Harris instructed CNN.

Amess entered Parliament in 1983, initially representing the Basildon constituency, and had served repeatedly in the House of Commons since then, making him one of many longest-serving lawmakers in the chamber.

Lawmakers from throughout the political spectrum spoke Friday of their unhappiness, concern, and anger that one other of their colleagues was killed whereas assembly with constituents.

In a press release Friday from Downing Street, Johnson mentioned the MP "was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics."

"David was a man who believed passionately in this country and in its future," Johnson mentioned. "We lost today a fine public servant."

Starmer wrote on Twitter: "Horrific and deeply shocking news. Thinking of David, his family and his staff."

Flags outdoors Parliament have been lowered to half employees after Amess' loss of life.

Amess was knighted in 2015 for his political service. He supported Britain's departure from the European Union, and his foremost areas of experience have been animal welfare and pro-life points, in response to a biography on his web site.

He was not thought-about a controversial politician, and regardless of the size of his tenure, he was not a broadly identified political determine in the UK.

In a e-book he wrote final 12 months about being an MP, Amess mentioned Cox's homicide was "totally unexpected" and the occasion had modified the best way MPs work together with members of the general public, notably in relation to constituency surgical procedures.

"These increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians," he wrote. "I myself have over the years experienced nuisance from the odd member of the general public at my own property. We regularly check our locks."