Tommy Mair, the man accused of killing MP Jo Cox just two days ago, appeared in court today and told them: “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.
On Thursday, MP for Batley and Spen, and mother of two young children, Mrs Cox was attacked in the street with a gun and a knife, outside her constituency surgery near Leeds.
At one point during the attack, a 77-year-old man tried to intervene and wrestle the assailant to the ground, but he was also attacked and injured. He is currently in a stable condition in hospital.
The prime suspect, Tommy Mair, who was caught at the crime scene by police, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with her murder this morning, reports the Mirror.
Standing in the dock beside two security guards and behind reinforced glass, Mair, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, spoke only when asked to confirm his name – and even then he refused to do so accurately.
When asked again to confirm his name, he repeated a second time: “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.
His lawyer then stepped in to confirm his real name, Tommy Mair.
Mair also refused to provide details of his date of birth or his address.
The hearing only lasted for about 15 minutes, finishing as Mair was remanded in custody to appear again at a later date.
52-year-old Mair, who has been linked to numerous far right groups such as white supremacist organisation, the ‘Springbok Club’, faces charges of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and possession of an offensive weapon.
There are also conflicting reports that Mair shouted ‘Britain First’ in the moments before launching the attack. However, as of yet, nothing has been confirmed.
Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of Jo Cox, and to the people of Batley and Spen who she served as an MP since 2015.
