A British Labour MP was in
critical condition in hospital Thursday after being shot and
stabbed by a man near Leeds who 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, Jo Cox, 41, struggled with the
assailant, a 52-year-old man, 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 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. The former
head of policy for charity Oxfam has spoken out for the victims
of Syria's civil war and pushed for efforts to achieve a
wide-ranging solution to the conflict.
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