Brussels, 16/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Supporters of the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union and those calling for a “Brexit” decided to suspend all their activities on Thursday 16 June, seven days away from the referendum, following the murder of the Labour Party MP Jo Cox.
Cox was shot in the village of Birstall. A man in his 50s has been arrested and is suspected of having shot her. A witness, quoted by several British media sources, asserted that the attacker perpetrated the attack shouting, “Britain first”, suggesting that his action is related to the referendum on 23 June.
The organisers in favour of the “Remain” campaign immediately suspended their activities and subsequently received the support of Prime Minister David Cameron. The camp opposed to the country staying in the EU also decided to suspend its campaign. There have been very many reactions expressing the horror felt by such an act, particularly on the social network Twitter, with messages from the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Junker, and the leader of the S & D Group at the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella (Italy). The Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg this Thursday observed a minute's silence in homage to Jo Cox. (Original version in French by Jan Kordys)