British police say a 52-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Mrs Cox, 41, was shot and stabbed by a man who witnesses said shouted “Britain first,” in her own electoral district of Birstall in northern England on Thursday.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen said Thomas Mair had been charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

Wallen said Cox “was attacked and sustained serious injuries from both a firearm and a knife and despite assistance from passers-by, the ambulance service and police officers who were quickly on the scene, she sadly died of her injuries.”

He added that police were working with the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, was pursuing inquiries into media reports of “the suspect being linked to right wing extremism” and “the suspect’s link to mental health services.”

“Based on information available at this time, this appears to be an isolated, but targeted attack upon Jo – there is also no indication at this stage that anyone else was involved in the attack. However we will be investigating how the suspect came to be in possession of an unlawfully held firearm,” he said.

Mair is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.

– TiVi Tuan-san