British Conservative MP Sir David Amess dies after being stabbed at constituency surgery

British Conservative MP David Amess has died after being stabbed at an event in his local constituency in southeast England, British media said Friday.

Police did not name Amess but said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea" and that the victim "later died".

British MP David Amess was on Friday stabbed "multiple times" during an event in his local constituency in southeast England, Sky News and the BBC reported.

Local police did not name Amess but confirmed that officers "were called to reports of a stabbing" shortly after 12:05 pm (1105 GMT).

"A man was arrested shortly after & we're not looking for anyone else," the force said on Twitter at the time.

Sky News and the BBC identified the victim as the 69-year-old politician, from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.

Amess was holding a his regular weekly meeting with constituents at the Belfairs Methodist Church, in the small town of Leigh-on-Sea.

He had advertised the event on his official Twitter account.

There was no immediate comment from Johnson, who was leading an away-day for senior ministers in the west of England.

But David Cameron, one of his Tory predecessors in Downing Street, said: "Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family."

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer called the news "horrific and deeply shocking".

An eye-witness, identified only as Anthony, told radio station LBC that the scene was "completely and utterly swamped by police, ambulance, armed police.

"I saw someone get taken out the building, put into the back of a police car. Apparently he was stabbed quite a few times."

Other British MPs have been attacked at similar constituency events, including Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 in the run-up to the Brexit referendum.

The Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up in her memory, tweeted that it was "horrified to hear the news of the attack on Sir David Amess MP.

"We are thinking of him, his family and loved ones at this distressing time," it added.

Labour MP Stephen Timms was stabbed multiple times during an event in 2010, but recovered from "potentially life-threatening injuries and is still an MP.

Timms said he was "appalled" at the latest attack.

Qatar's embassy in London paid tribute to Amess, who headed the All-Party Parliamentary Group fro fostering ties with Doha, in a tweet on Friday evening.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Sir David Amess," the tweet read. "He was dedicated to his work as an MP and a leader in building ties between the UK and the people of Qatar - a true friend to our country. We send our sincerest condolences to his family at this time."

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Sir David Amess.
He was dedicated to his work as an MP and a leader in building ties between the UK and the people of Qatar - a true friend to our country. We send our sincerest condolences to his family at this time. pic.twitter.com/2QJMJ8k8Vh

— سفارة دولة قطر - لندن🇶🇦🇬🇧 (@QatarEmb_London) October 15, 2021