The man accused in the Ann Widdecombe murder case has been charged with preparing acts of terrorism targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, UK Counter Terrorism Policing announced on Friday.
Joshua Kerry, 28, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with alleged activity between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026.
FAKTA
- What: Joshua Kerry, 28, charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006.
- Target: The charge relates in part to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, according to Counter Terrorism Policing.
- Period: The alleged activity took place between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026.
- Background: Kerry is also accused of murdering Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, 78, at her home in Haytor, Devon, on 8 July.
- Next step: Kerry is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday, 7 October.
“Hugely intensive and complex investigation”
Senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said the new charge followed months of detailed detective work.
“We have been running a hugely intensive and complex investigation for some time,” Evans said in a statement.
“The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.”
The charge was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service under Section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006.
The Ann Widdecombe murder case
Kerry was arrested in July and charged with the murder of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister who served as Reform UK’s spokeswoman at the time of her death.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on 9 July, having died the previous day. A court previously heard that she had been struck over the head with a hammer 21 times in what Counter Terrorism Police described as a “targeted attack”.
Widdecombe served as Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s government in the 1990s. She later became a Brexit Party MEP and appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing before joining Reform UK as a spokeswoman.
Farage news “extremely concerning”, says Home Secretary
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her “profound sympathies” were with Farage and his family, adding that the development “raises serious questions about the security of those in public life”.
“I know the new charges made today will be extremely concerning. My profound sympathies are with Nigel Farage and his family,” Mahmood said in a statement.
“Let no one make any mistake: an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all.”
Kerry is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 7 October. He has already appeared at the Old Bailey charged with Widdecombe’s murder, with a provisional trial date set for June 2027.
This story also appears on the Watan News main site: Ann Widdecombe murder suspect charged with planning terror acts against Nigel Farage. Read more UK news at Watan News English. Reporting based on the Press Association wire via the Oldham Times.
