Widdecombe Murder Suspect Charged With Preparing Acts of Terrorism, Including Against Farage

The British police on Friday charged a 28-year-old man with preparing to commit acts of terrorism, including against Nigel Farage, a member of Parliament and the leader of Reform U.K., the right-wing populist party. The man, Joshua Kerry of Rotherham, in northern England, was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, the counterterrorism police said in a statement . The charge relates to activity between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026, the police added.

“The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network,” said Vicki Evans, the deputy assistant commissioner for the department. Mr. Kerry was charged earlier this year with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, 78, the right-wing British politician who was found dead in her home on July 9. Prosecutors have said that Ms. Widdecombe was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during an attack the day before.

Her killing sent shock-waves through Britain’s political community. The statement on Friday provided no details about what Mr. Kerry was accused of doing in connection with Mr. Farage. British criminal justice rules limit what can be made public after someone has been charged with committing a crime in order to avoid prejudicing a trial. The police said Mr. Kerry was set to appear in court on Oct. 7.