British Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex.
Police declared the arrest of a 25-year-old man on suspicion of murder after the attack at a church in Leigh-on-Sea.
They said they recovered a knife and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “our hearts are full of shock and sadness” at the loss of “one of the kindest” people in politics.
Sir David, 69, was an MP since 1983 and married with five children.
Home Secretary Priti Patel and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also paid their respects outside Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
Speaking later, Ms Patel paid tribute to Sir David as a “man of the people”. She said “he was absolutely there for everyone.”
“We are all struggling to come to terms with the fact that David Amess went so cruelly away from all of us,” she said, adding: “All our thoughts right now are absolutely with David and David’s dear, dear family.”
The Met said officers are carrying out searches at two addresses in the London area and are not seeking anyone else over the death.
The force believes the man acted alone but inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are continuing.
Government sources said he is a British national who, from initial inquiries, appears to be of Somali heritage.
