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British politician David Amess – who was stabbed to death Friday during a constituent event at a church in Essex – once wrote that he was warned to be careful when meeting with constituents and said that a deadly attack could "happen to any of us."
In his 2020 memoir "Ayes and Ears," the Conservative MP wrote about how he received a death threat from the IRA, and the warnings given by the police to MPs about the dangers of constituency surgeries.
"Members were asked to be vigilant of the general public visiting constituency surgeries," Amess wrote. "This advice was triggered as a result of someone with a machete bursting into the surgery of Nigel Jones and killing one of his assistants. A traumatic event. His attacker had been a constituent that he had met many times before and was clearly frustrated by the progress being made on his behalf."
Amess wrote that such an attack "could happen to any of us."
"Now advice has been given to be more careful when accepting appointments," he continued. "We are advised to never see people alone, we must be extra careful when opening post and we must ensure that our offices are properly safe and secure.
"In short," he wrote, "these increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians."
Amess, 69, was meeting with constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex when he was attacked and stabbed multiple times shortly after 12 p.m.
He was treated by emergency medical services and later died at the scene.
Essex Police said they have arrested a 25-year-old man following the event.
"We're not looking for anyone else," the force tweeted. The man is currently in custody.
Amess posted public notices of his events, according to the Associated Press.
The Conservative politician also wrote about the 2016 murder of MP Jo Cox, who was killed by a far-right extremist at while meeting with constituents.
"While it is often said that good can come out of someone's death, it is difficult to see what good can come from this senseless murder," he wrote in the memoir.
