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(Image: PA)

Jo Cox, who represented Batley and Spen, was killed in a street attack outside a library where she was hosting a constituency surgery.

Eyewitness said the mum-of-two was left lying in a pool of blood on the pavement after her assailant shot and stabbed her in Birstall, West Yorks.

The 41-year-old's death was later confirmed by police after she was airlifted to hospital.

A 52-year-old man, named locally as Tommy Mair, has been arrested.

Mrs Cox was shot three times, once in the face, and stabbed.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country would be "in shock at the horrific murder" of Mrs Cox who was a "much loved colleague".

(Image: SWNS)

Mrs Cox was pronounced dead at 1.48pm by a doctor assisting paramedics treating the Labour MP.

At a press conference, temporary chief constable for West Yorkshire Dee Collins said: "A man was arrested nearby by local uniformed police officers. Weapons, including a firearm, have also been recovered.

"This is a very significant investigation with large numbers of witnesses that have been spoken to by police at this time.

"There is a large and significant crime scene and there is a large police presence in the area.

"A full investigation is under way to establish the motive for this attack."

A 77-year-old also suffered injuries which are not thought to be life threatening.

A bystander tried to intervene as the attacker pulled out a "handmade" gun, stepped back and shot her twice.

She is then said to have flopped to the floor between two parked cars.

The attacker is then thought to have shot her in the face as well as stabbing her.

Paramedics arrived within 15 minutes as screaming passers-by flocked to the scene.

One cried "she's not breathing" as they called emergency services, eyewitnesses said.

The attack comes six years after Labour MP Stephen Timms was stabbed twice at a surgery in retaliation to his vote to enter the Iraq War.

(Image: SWNS)

Her husband Brendan tweeted a picture of his wife by their houseboat on the River Thames.

He has since released a heartwarming tribute, saying Mrs Cox would have wanted her two children to be "bathed in love".

Remain and Leave campaigns cancelled EU referendum events after hearing of the tragedy.

A house thought to be inhabited by Mair has been sealed off by police guarding the property as forensic officers work in the garden.

Mr Cameron has led tributes from the political world, saying: "We've lost a great star. She had a big heart and people are going to be very, very sad at what has happened.

"She was a very strong campaigning MP. She had a great track record of caring about refugees and had taken a big interest in how we can look after Syrian refugees and do the right thing in our world. She was a star for her constituents, a star in Parliament and a star right across the House."

Eyewitness Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside.

He said: "There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag."

Clarke Rothwell, who runs a nearby cafe, told the BBC he believed the MP had been shot and stabbed multiple times.

He said: "Three times she was shot, the initial time which then she dropped to the floor and two more times. The third time he got close proximity he shot her round the head area."

(Image: PA) (Image: SKYNEWS)

Another bystander told the Yorkshire Post: "I was just on my way to the Tesco in the middle of Birstall at about quarter past one when I realised a helicopter was in the air but didn’t think any more of it.

"Then as I got nearer to the library I heard a girl on her phone talking about a man with a gun and I saw the police tape and ambulances.

"It must have only just happened because there was at least one person still lying in the road being treated by paramedics.

(Image: JOCOX)

"There was a big police presence and a few of them were armed, which was a bit unnerving to see so close to home.

"At about half one I saw a man being carried on a stretcher into an ambulance."

Mrs Cox was co-chair of the Friends of Syria All Party Parliamentary Group and an active member of parliamentary groups working on Palestine, devolution, Pakistan and Kashmir, according to her website.