THE head of the American neo-Nazi group supported by MP Jo Cox's accused killer last night said she had "put a target on her back" by supporting Syrian refugees.

In a hate-filled rant, Will Williams, the leader of what was once described as the US's leading white supremacist group - the National Alliance, said he felt "no guilt" about the killing.

12 Will Williams, the leader of the far right US group the National Alliance Credit: The National Alliance

12 Tommy Mair appeared in court charged with Jo Cox's murder

According to the Mail on Sunday the 69-year-old said: "I hear that she loves the idea of bringing a bunch of Muslim refugees from Syria or wherever.

"You can see how people would be opposed to that. So she put a target on her back. He [Mair] is the effect.

"The cause is clear to him and he’s reacting. That’s how I look at it."

The National Alliance was founded by William Pierce in 1974.

Pierce’s book 'The Turner Diaries' is said to have inspired US terrorist Timothy McVeigh to bomb a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995 - killing 168 people.

12 Jo Cox died after being shot three times and stabbed seven times on Thursday Credit: Facebook

12 Since her death more than £500,000 has been raised for charity

Williams remarks came just hours after Jo Cox's family visited the site where she was killed yesterday to make a heartbreaking tribute to their loved one.

Jo’s younger sister Kim Leadbeater, 40, fought back tears as she gave a poignant, five-minute speech in Birstall, West Yorks.

Standing before crowds and floral tributes in the village square — near where the Batley and Spen MP was gunned down — Kim told how her family was broken, but would mend.

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She said: “There are some things in life you should never have to do.

“Last night I had to go and identify my sister’s body.

“Yes, this was Jo Cox MP and she was many things to many people in her too-short life but she was my sister, my only sibling, my parents’ first-born child, a wife and a mum.”

12 Jo's parents Jean and Gordon attended the scene in West Yorkshire where she was killed Credit: SWNS - Bristol +44 (0)1179066550

12 Her sister Kim Leadbeater thanks crowds in Birstall yesterday as she pays tribute to Jo Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Kim Leadbeater spoke to the crowds to thank them for their support over the last few days Credit: PA:Press Association

Kim said she, her partner and parents were not used to being in the public eye. But they felt compelled to speak due to the “overwhelming outpouring of grief, sympathy and love” from around the world.

She added: “We want to say a most sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has expressed their love and affection for Jo and sent their thoughts and sympathy to us.

“It has genuinely made a difference and helped us through some dark times in the last 48 hours.

“From a very young age all Jo wanted was for everybody to be happy.

“We were brought up to see the positive in everything.

“Our parents instilled in us a real glass-half-full mentality and whilst I sometimes tend to add a large measure of Yorkshire cynicism to this, Jo generally did not. She only saw the good.

“When she would get abuse on Facebook or Twitter we would talk and sometimes cry together but she would still focus on the positive.”

12 In a statement Jo's sister Kim said she was "a human being and she was perfect" Credit: SWNS - Bristol +44 (0)1179066550

12 The family said they had been touched by the genuine outpouring of grief over the last few days Credit: SWNS

12 Yesterday was the first time Jo's family have spoken out since her death on Thursday Credit: PA:Press Association

Referring to her sister’s “strength and solidarity”, Kim added: “We have to continue this in the days, months and years to come. It is part of Jo’s legacy.

“For now our family is broken but we will mend over time and never let Jo leave our lives.

“She will live on for all the good people in the world, through (her husband) Brendan, through us, and through her truly wonderful children who will always know what an utterly amazing woman their mother was.

“She was a human being. She was perfect.” Minutes after the speech, Brendan Cox tweeted: “Very proud of my sister in law Kim who spoke on behalf of us all and did her sister proud #MoreInCommon.”

The family remained in the square, hugging close friends, leaders of all faiths and offering comfort to others.

Kim Leadbeater's full heartbreaking tribute to sister Jo Cox "There are some things in life you should never have to do. "Last night I had to go and identify my sister's body. "Yes this was Jo Cox the MP and she was many things to many people in her too short life. "But she was my sister, my only sibling, my parents' first born child, a wife and a mother. "My parents, my partner and I are quite private people and Jo, in true character, had fully respected our wish to remain out of the public eye. "But I could not continue to watch the overwhelming outpouring of genuine grief, sympathy and love there has been since this horrendous incident occurred without speaking on behalf of Jo's family. "We want to say a most sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has expressed their love and affection for Jo and sent their thoughts and sympathy to us. "It has genuinely made a difference and helped us through some dark times in the last 48 hours. "We would particularly like to thank the police and emergency services who have been outstanding in the care they have provided to Jo and ourselves. "We'd also like to thank the brave and courageous gentleman Bernard Kenny who tried to help her in her hour of need. "Our thoughts and thanks go to him and his family and we wish him well in his recovery. "Jo's team of staff both here and in London have been a source of support and strength for her since she was elected and she loved them dearly. "I would particularly like to pay tribute to Sandra and Fazila who were with her on Thursday - two of the most wonderful woman you could hope to meet. "From a very young age all Jo wanted was for everyone to be happy. We were brought up to see the positives in everything and everyone and have endeavoured to do so all our lives. "Our parents instilled in us a real glass half full mentality and, while I sometimes tend to add a large measure of Yorkshire cynicism to this, Jo generally did not. "She only saw the good. "We know that there are some evil people in this world. "But there are an awful lot of good people too. When Jo would get abuse on Facebook or Twitter we we would talk and sometimes cry together. "But she would still focus on the positive and talk about the silent majority who didn't always shout the loudest but who she knew were in her corner. "I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I was at times part of that silent majority. "I don't do social media and would shout at the TV or get upset at home instead. "But over the past 48 hours people have not been silent. "They have been vocal and passionate and have spoken from the heart with genuine emotion with no hidden agendas. "Jo would have loved it. "We have to continue this strength and solidarity int he days, months and years to come as part of Jo's legacy and to focus on as Jo would say, 'that which unites us and not which divides us'. "For now our family is broken. but we will mend over time and we will never let Jo leave out lives. "She will live on through all the good people in the world. "Through Brendan, through us, through her truly wonderful children who will always know what an utterly amazing woman there mother was. "She was a human being and she was perfect."

One woman told them: “We will be here for you. Today, tomorrow, next month, next year.”

Jo’s dad Gordon, 69, battled tears as he read floral tributes.

He said: “We would have come to see the flowers on Friday but we were in bits, and will be again. But this is a great help.”

Jo, 41, was shot three times and stabbed as she headed to a constituency meeting at Birstall library at Thursday lunchtime.

An online fund set up by friends in honour of Jo had last night passed £500,000.

Proceeds will be split between her favourite causes including the Royal Voluntary Service, HOPE not Hate and White Helmets, a rescue service in Syria.

12 Tommy Mair arrived at court in a police van and remain handcuffed to guards through the short hearing Credit: Getty Images

12 An artist's impression of Tommy Mair in the court dock yesterday morning in London Credit: PA

Yesterday morning Tommy Mair appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with the MP's murder, with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a knife.

He is also charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Bernard Carter-Kenny, 77, who was also allegedly attacked at the same time by Mair.

When asked his name he responded: "death to traitors, freedom for Britain".

He was remanded in custody to appear at London's Old Bailey on Monday.

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