Police said late Saturday that investigators have until Friday to question the suspect, a 25-year-old man, suspected of killing MP David Amess after taking him into custody under the terrorism law , which allows them to prolong his detention.
Read alsoThe murder of British MP David Amess described as a terrorist act
The investigation reveals according to the first elements "
a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism
", according to the police, who said they were carrying out searches at three addresses in the London area as part of a "
fast-paced investigation
" .
The man arrested is said to be a British national of Somali origin named Ali Harbi Ali, according to the BBC.
Oriented several years ago to the British program for people at risk of radicalization based on volunteering, according to the broadcaster, it would not have been very diligent and was never officially a "
subject of interest
" for the national security agency.
Police and security services believe the assailant acted alone and was "self-
radicalized,
" according to the Sunday Times.
It could have been inspired by Al-Shabab, Islamists linked to Al-Qaeda in Somalia.
Appointment one week in advance
Ali Harbi Ali's father, Harbi Ali Kullane, a former adviser to the Somali Prime Minister, confirmed to the Sunday Times that his son was in detention and said he was "
very traumatized
".
John Lamb, a local Conservative adviser, told British media outlets that the young man waited patiently for his turn before pouncing on the MP and repeatedly stabbing him in front of two MP's assistants.
"
I was told he stabbed Sir David and just waited in the church hall until the police arrived
," Kevin Buck, vice president of the association, told The Telegraph. constituency.
He had made an appointment a week in advance, according to the Daily Mail.
Read also The heterogeneous profiles of apologists for terrorism
On Saturday evening, hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil at a sports field near the scene of the crime, observing a minute of silence in memory of the MP.
Many people, including members of the Muslim community, came to lay bouquets of flowers and written tributes to the victim.
