First picture of man suspected of fatal shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox outside library

Tommy Mair, Jo Cox suspect

This is the first picture of a man arrested after Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed outside a West Yorkshire library today.

The man arrested in the lunchtime incident during her constituency surgery is being named locally as Tommy Mair - who neighbours described as a 'loner'.

Police confirmed they are holding a 52-year-old man in connection with the horrific incident in Birstall, near Leeds. Forensic officers are currently searching his home.

The married mother-of-two was fighting for her life in critical condition in hospital  but just after 5pm it was confirmed she has tragically died.

Witnesses said there had been an altercation and reported hearing three shots and then Mrs Cox being 'stabbed repeatedly with a foot-long knife' while lying on the ground.

Her assailant is claimed to have shouted 'Britain First' as he walked away from her lying in a pool of blood.

Jo Cox has died following the incident this afternoon

Police apprehend a man after searching for an attacker

Pictures emerged soon afterwards of two policemen pinning down a man lying with a trail of blood from his arm near the scene.

He could later be seen sitting calmly upright against a fence as two policemen spoke to him.

Police later on cordoned off a pathway close to a house where Mair lives, while forensic officers were spotted searching garages behind it and working in the garden.

SWNS

The scene of the shooting by the local library

Neighbours said he had lived there for more than 30 years - on his own for the last two decades since the deaths of his mother and grandmother.

They did not think he had a job or drove a car and described how he would do gardening chores for local people.

Read more: Jo Cox shooting: Britain First leader says attacker could have shouted 'we need to put Britain first'

One neighbour, David Pickles, said: "He's lived there longer than me and I've lived here since 1975.

"I still can't believe it. He's just quiet. He kept himself to himself.

"He lived by himself. He's been on his own for about 20 years."

Getty

Forensic officers are combing the scene and a nearby house

"I've never seen a lot of people visiting or anything like that, but he likes gardening," he said.

"He did a lot of people's gardens round here. But he did it quietly."

Mr Pickles said he did not know of any connection between his neighbour and Ms Cox.

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