Terror charge suspect in Widdecombe murder case due at Westminster court

Joshua Kerry, 28, faces a terror charge linked to an alleged plot against Nigel Farage, days after being charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe.

Rotherham man appears in court over alleged Farage terror plot

Joshua Kerry, 28, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to face a charge of preparation of terrorist acts, the Daily Express reports. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) announced the charge on Friday, 2 October, stating it related to alleged activity between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026.

Kerry is already accused of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old Reform UK spokeswoman and former Conservative minister, who died on 8 July after being struck over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, according to evidence previously heard in court.

The new charge is connected to an alleged terror plot targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. In August, CTP had reopened a year-long inquiry into an alleged firebomb attack at Farage's home in south London. The Metropolitan Police and CTP London had originally investigated the incident as an "attempted burglary", closing the case without arrest pending new lines of inquiry. Upon reopening, CTP London identified a line of inquiry which it said "may have been relevant" but had not been "identified and pursued by them at the time."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the charge was the result of a "hugely intensive and complex investigation". She added: "The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the terror charge was "extremely concerning" and raised "serious questions" about the security of Members of Parliament. In a statement issued on Friday, Mahmood said: "My profound sympathies are with Nigel Farage and his family. Let no one make any mistake: an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all."

Mahmood added that once Parliament returns, she would update on work to strengthen protections for those in public life. She described the case as an opportunity to "reset" the approach to MP security.

Source: Daily Express