Ann Widdecombe was killed in a “targeted attack”, counter-terror police have confirmed.

The Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister was found dead at her home in Devon last Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.

Police believe she was attacked at her home at about 12.30pm on Wednesday.

A 28-year-old white British man was arrested on suspicion of murder last Saturday and re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The head of counter terrorism policing, assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, confirmed today that officers are still “working to understand the planning and preparation and the motivation that sits behind the attack”.

Speaking from New Scotland Yard, Taylor said there is a “limit” to the details he can provide given it is a live murder investigation, “but it is clear this was a targeted attack”.

Taylor said officers have conducted “extensive searches” in line with the investigation, and said he was aware there are “significant levels of public interest”.

“I do not intend to address every bit of speculation we have seen, but I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public that investigations of this type are complex, and new information can emerge as officers progress their inquiries,” Taylor said.

He added: “We will release further information when it is appropriate to do so. Think before sharing misinformation.”

He said the attack has not, at this stage, been “declared a terrorist incident”, but that police have more time to interview the suspect after securing a warrant of further detention.

The suspect can now be held for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed on Monday that the suspect was not known to Prevent, the government’s programme which aims to stop individuals at risk of becoming terrorists.

Police previously said there was “nothing to suggest” Widdecombe’s death was politically-motivated and was not “being treated as terrorism”.

Officers also briefly arrested a 26-year-old man in connection to her death on Friday, but confirmed his release on Saturday.

The counter-terror police took over the investigation into Widdecombe’s death from Devon and Cornwall Police on Monday.

Widdecombe, who was 78, became a Brexit Party MEP after leaving the Commons and subsequently a Reform UK spokeswoman.

She also found fame outside politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

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