Witnesses say a man shouted “Britain first” as he shot and killed a member of the British Parliament on Thursday.
Jo Cox was a 41-year-old member of the British Parliament. She opposed Britain's exit from the European Union. The former aid worker was known for her support of immigrants' rights and Syrian refugees. She was the mother of two children.
Jeremy Corbyn is the Labor Party's leader. He called the attack “a horrific murder.”
Cox was shot, stabbed and kicked on a street in her home district of West Yorkshire after she left a town meeting at a library. Gun attacks are rare in the United Kingdom.
A 52-year-old man was arrested nearby. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder.
British citizens will vote on the country's status in the European Union on June 23. Politicians and voters have been debating the merits of leaving or remaining in the European Union for months.
The issue is known as “Brexit,” for “Britain's exit.” Both sides agreed to suspend their campaigns after hearing news of Cox's death.
British Prime Minister David Cameron was in Gibraltar when he heard the news. Gibraltar is a British territory on the south coast of Spain. He called Cox's murder “absolutely tragic and dreadful news.”
Cameron wants Britain to stay in the EU, but the BBC says British citizens are evenly split on the issue.
Cox was elected to her position in 2015.
I'm Dan Friedell.
VOANews.com reported this story. Dan Friedell adapted the story for Learning English. Additional information for his report came from the BBC. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
district - n. an area or section of a country, city, or town
status - n. the official position of a person or thing according to the law
