Updated: British MP David Amess assassinated by knifeman

British Conservative MP Sir David Amess did not survive the multiple stab wounds by a knifeman, who attacked him while holding a constituency meeting today.

The 69 year-old Amess who represented Southend West, 69, was holding the meeting at the Belfairs Methodist Church, in Eastwood Road North.

The knifeman, who has been arrested by the police ran into the building wielding a knife before attacking the politician.

Horrified constituents waiting to see him and staff witnessed the stabbing and quickly called police who rushed to the scene.

Amess, born in Plaistow, Essex (now Newham, London) on 26 March 1952, was a Roman Catholic.

He was educated at St Anthony’s Junior and Infant School and the College of Technology (now Faculty of Science and Technology of Bournemouth University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and government.

Amess taught at St John the Baptist Primary School in Bethnal Green for a year (1970–71), and then spent a short time as an underwriter before becoming a recruitment consultant.

He went into politics in 1979, first contesting a safe Labour Party seat in Newham North West. He failed to supplant the Labour candidate.

In 1982, he was elected as a councillor to the London Borough of Redbridge.

In June 1983, he was elected as MP for Basildon. He was re-elected in 1987, 1992. But in 1997, he changed his constituency to Southend, following the redrawing of the constituency map for Basildon.

He has been representing Southend since then.

Reactions have poured forth over his assassination.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: This is the most devastating, horrific & tragic news.

“David Amess was a kind & thoroughly decent man – & he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet. Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today. Right now, my heart goes out to David’s family”.

Angela Rayner, deputy leader of Labour Party tweeted when it was unclear if Amess would pull through: “I’m horrified by the reports regarding David Amess and an incident at his constituency surgery today”

“We don’t know the details yet but on behalf of all of us in the Labour Party I want to say all of our thoughts are with David and we all hope that he pulls through and is ok”.

Jeremy Corbyn, a former labour leader also said: “My thoughts and concerns are with David Amess’ family at such a shocking time.Nobody should be under threat doing their job”.

Nigel Farage wrote: “Desperately sad news about Sir David Amess being murdered doing his job as an MP. Awful for his family and friends, this is a real blow to the democratic process.”

Amess is survived by his wife Julia Arnold and five children, one son and four daughters.

Julia is a part-time caseworker for her husband.

His son – also named David Amess – was jailed in 2005 for wounding with intent, having smashed a bottle of champagne over a man’s head in a nightclub.

Their eldest daughter is actress Katie Amess.

She publicly criticised her father’s stance on same-sex marriage after producing a film in support of gay rights in 2013.