British prosecutors have charged a 28-year-old man already in custody for the murder of a conservative politician with preparing acts of terrorism, including conduct directed at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the Crown Prosecution Service announced Friday.
Joshua Kerry of South Yorkshire faces one count of preparation of terrorist acts. Prosecutors allege the conduct occurred between May 31 and July 8. Kerry has been held by British authorities since late July, when he was arrested and accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe, a former Reform UK and Conservative politician.
According to prosecutors, Widdecombe was eating lunch in her Devon home on July 8 when Kerry allegedly entered through the front door, struck her 21 times in the head with a hammer, took her wallet and left. The attack is said to have lasted only two minutes.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, said the new charge resulted from extensive investigative work. «The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counterterrorism Policing network,» Evans said. «This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of inquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.»
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the new charges «extremely concerning» in a post on X and extended her «profound sympathies» to the Farage family. She added that «an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all» and said the case «raises serious questions about the security of those in public life.»
The Jo Cox Foundation, established in honor of the Labour MP murdered in 2016, said no one in public life should have to fear for their safety. «Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endangered individuals and their families, but threaten our democracy and have no place in public life,» the foundation said. «We must do more to prevent the rising levels of abuse and intimidation in politics.»
Kerry is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
In a separate announcement Friday, Counterterrorism Policing said two Iranian men had been charged with plotting to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area. The Crown Prosecution Service charged 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan and 34-year-old Rahman Salehi with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Prosecutors allege the two men were in contact with an overseas third party who may be in Iran in connection with the plot.
Evans described those charges as «extremely serious» while saying authorities do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public in relation to the matter. She noted the alleged plot comes during the High Holy Day period and coincides with the anniversary of a devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue, amid a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom.
Ahmadyan and Salehi have been remanded and are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.