Death has ‘shattered our hearts’, say family
after the Tory MP, 69, was stabbed 17 times at a constituency surgery on Friday.
Anti-terror police have searched three properties linked to murder suspect Ali Harbi Ali, 25, including his family home.
In a statement released by the Met, Sir David’s widow Julia and five children said they hope he will live on in the causes he championed.
They added: “As a family, we are trying to understand why this awful thing has occurred.
“We are absolutely broken but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man.
“The family would like to thank everyone for the wonderful, wonderful tributes paid to David following his cruel and violent death.
“It truly has brought us so much comfort. The support shown by friends, constituents and the general public alike has been so overwhelming. It has given us strength.
“We are enormously proud of him. Our hearts are shattered.”
The family also pledged to carry on Sir
David’s campaigns including plans to erect a memorial to Dame Vera Lynn and for Southend to gain city status.
Calling on people to support charities the animal lover was involved with, they added: “Strong and courageous is an appropriate way to describe David. He was a patriot and a man of peace.
“So, we ask people to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all.” Hundreds of people gathered at St Michael’s & All Angels church in his Essex constituency to pay their respects during an emotional ceremony yesterday.
Many fought back tears as they heard vicar Tom Loh praise Sir David for his “extraordinary service”. Conservative MP Mark Francois described Sir David as his “oldest and best friend in politics” as he laid flowers outside Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, the scene of the fatal attack.
Paying tribute to the popular Southend West representative, he added: “He was the best bloke I ever knew.”