Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Thursday expressed dismay over the stabbing and shooting murder of British Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, by a Brexiteer earlier in the day. "A horrible act of hatred that casts a shadow over the hearts of us all," Renzi said. "This hatred will never prevail, in Britain or elsewhere". The premier went on to convey his pain and dismay to Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and British Prime Minister David Cameron on behalf of himself, the Italian government, and his Democratic Party (PD).
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni deplored what he called the "appalling" assassination. "I am shocked," Gentiloni tweeted shortly after news broke that the 41-year-old mother of two - a former head of policy for charity Oxfam who has spoken out for the victims of Syria's civil war - died in hospital after being stabbed and shot by a man near Leeds. The assailant reportedly shouted "Britain First" as he attacked her, a week before the country is due to hold a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. According to media reports, the MP struggled with her 52-year-old assailant during the attack near the library in Birstall in her West Yorkshire constituency. Labour, like all the main British parties, is campaigning to stay in the EU. Britain First is the name of a far-right political grouping which is pushing for Britain to leave the EU.
The man shot three bullets and stabbed the mother-of-two several times, eye witness Clarke Rothwell told the BBC. He said the last bullet at close range hit her "close to the head". Supporters of both the "Remain" and "Leave" side of the June 23 referendum have suspended their campaigning following the incident, The Guardian paper reported. British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had cancelled a planned trip to Gibraltar. Cox, a Cambridge University graduate, was elected as Labour MP for Batley and Spen in the 2015 general election.
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