'She would have wanted us to unite against the hatred that killed her' - MP Jo Cox slain outside her surgery

The 41-year-old mother-of-two was killed by a man, named locally as Tommy Mair, outside one of her regular surgeries in Birstall near Leeds.

Early reports suggest that Mair shouted “Britain First” as he attacked the politician, though police have not confirmed this.

Security services were quick to confirm that this was a “localised” incident, and though counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation, their role is said to be “peripheral”.

Cox’s murder was the first assassination of an MP since Ian Gow was killed by the IRA in 1990.

It led to an immediate suspension of campaigning from all sides in the EU referendum.

The MP was shot three times just before 1pm and was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, where she died from her wounds at 1.48pm.

Eyewitness Hichem Ben Abdallah described the horrific moment he saw Cox being attacked.

He said: “There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag. He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice.”

He added: “I came and saw her bleeding on the floor.”

Abdallah said Mair had what looked liked a handmade gun.

He said: “The man stepped back with the gun and fired it and then he fired a second shot. As he was firing he was looking down at the ground.

“He was kicking her and he was pulling her by her hair.”

A second eyewitness Clarke Rothwell told the Examiner the man shouted “Britain First, Britain First”.

He added: “I looked round and there was a guy standing over a woman on the floor. He seemed to have what looked like an old gun, like a musket, in his hand and he shot her again in the middle. He then seemed to shoot a third time, towards her head or face.

“He was also stabbing at her with what looked like a hunting knife, about a foot long. He was stabbing her and waving the knife around. A man who I know as Bernard tried to get near but the man swung his knife around and caught him in the stomach. Blood started coming out.”

Dee Collins, the temporary Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police announced Cox’s death at 5pm.

She said: “Jo was attacked by a man who inflicted serious and, sadly, ultimately fatal injuries. Subsequently, there was a further attack on a 77-year-old man nearby who has sustained injuries that are non-life threatening.”

She added: “This is a very significant investigation with a large number of witnesses being spoken to at this time.

“It’s a large and significant crime scene and a large police presence with a full investigation is under way to establish the motive for this attack.”

She said the force were not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder.

Mair, who is originally from Kilmarnock, was described by neighbours as a “loner”. It is understood he had previously talked to local press about his mental health issues. Britain First have denied any involvement.

Husband and colleagues pay tribute to MP

JO COX’S husband Brendan, father to their two children, led the tributes to his wife, calling for unity against hatred.

He said: “Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo’s friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo.

“Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.

“She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now. One, that our precious children are bathed in love; and two, that we all unite against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.

“Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Jo was dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights – and she brought those values and principles with her when she became an MP.

“Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. It is a profoundly important cause for us all.”

He said the thoughts of his party would be with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children, adding: “We send them our deepest condolences. We have lost a much-loved colleague, but they have lost a wife and a mother, and our hearts go out to them.”

His predecessor Gordon Brown, who with his wife Sarah had previously worked with Jo, paid an emotional tribute, saying: “Our memories will be forever scarred by this moment. Our hearts will always be hurt at our country’s loss.

“Jo Cox was the most vivacious, personable, dynamic and committed friend you could ever have. Whenever you talked to her, the compassion in her eyes and the commitment in her soul shone through. Years of public service advancing the causes she cared passionately about should have been ahead of her.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said the death of Jo Cox was a tragedy.

“She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children,” he added. “We’ve lost a great star. My thoughts are with her family.”

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said her heart was breaking for Cox’s family: “Although I didn’t know Jo personally, I know she was held in huge regard as a brilliant young woman, who had already contributed a huge amount in her time in Parliament, and today she was simply going about her job as a local MP.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said Jo was one of the country’s brightest hopes. “There will be time to talk about what the savage murder of an elected representative means for our democracy but that’s for another day,” she said. “Today we mourn the loss of one of our own.

“Jo was an extraordinary woman. She devoted her life to helping people in the darkest places in our world. Our hearts are broken by the loss of one of our country’s brightest hopes.”

Gabrielle Giffords, the US House of Representatives member who was shot in the head in 2011, tweeted: “Absolutely sickened to hear of the assassination of Jo Cox. She was a rising star, mother, and wife.”