Conservative U.K. Lawmaker Is Reported Stabbed in Southeast England

LONDON — A Conservative Party lawmaker was stabbed on Friday afternoon while he was meeting with local constituents in southeast England, according to reports from British news outlets. The London office of the lawmaker, David Amess, confirmed that an incident had taken place in the area of Southend, in Essex, but said that it was unable to provide further details.

Mr. Amess had been scheduled to hold a meeting with voters at the Belfairs Methodist Church when the attack was reported to have occurred.

The incident has echoes of the 2016 stabbing of the Labour lawmaker Jo Cox, who was killed when a right-wing extremist targeted her outside a meeting with constituents.

In a statement, Essex police said that they responded to reports of a stabbing in Eastwood Road North, shortly after 12.05 pm.

“Officers were on scene shortly after, arrested a man and recovered a knife. He is currently in custody,” said the statement.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public,” the police said. They added that they wanted to thank the public who alerted them to the incident so quickly but appealed for information from anyone who saw anything or has CCTV, dash cam or doorbell footage.