Britain mourns the death of a member of parliament and puts the referendum in limbo.
Britain mourned on Friday the death of MP Jo Cox after a gunman killed her in an attack that has put the June 23 referendum on EU membership in limbo; her death has brought a pause to the EU referendum campaign.
BIRSTALL, England (Reuters) Britain mourned on Friday for MP Jo Cox after a gunman killed her in an attack that has put the June 23 referendum on remaining in the European Union in limbo.
Jo Cox, a supporter of Britain remaining in the EU, was shot and repeatedly stabbed in her constituency near Leeds, in northern England, by a man who, according to witnesses, shouted "Britain first".
A 52-year-old man was arrested by authorities near the scene, and weapons, including a firearm, were recovered.
The death has brought a pause to the campaign over the EU referendum. Although the killer's motives are not immediately clear, some speculate that sympathy for Jo may boost the Remain campaign, which has recently been overtaken by those advocating for the country to leave the European bloc.
The police stated that they were not in a position to discuss the motive for the attack.
"Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy and enthusiasm for life that would leave most people exhausted," said Jo's widower, Brendan.
The British flag was flown at half-mast over Parliament, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, while hundreds of people in Birstall paid tribute at a local church.