SIR DAVID Amess’ daughter has told how her family’s “world shattered” when her MP dad was stabbed to death by a terrorist.
MP Sir David Amess was brutally killed outside his constituency surgery in a savage knife attack in October 2021.
Sir David Amess, pictured with his wife Julia Arnold and his four daughters, bride Alexandra, Florence, Katie and Sarah[/caption]
Katie Amess, 39, has broken her silence following the death of her father[/caption]
Members of the Anglo-Iranian community held a service in Parliament Square in tribute to Sir David Amess, MP[/caption]
Jihadist Ali Harbi Ali admitted killing Sir David but denied murder, claiming he was protecting fellow Muslims with the brutal attack.
For the first time since the MP’s death, Sir David Amess’ daughter, Katie, has spoken out about how their “world shattered”.
The 39-year-old actress also voiced her anger over the police and the Home Office’s “failures,” which failed to intervene despite Ali being known to them.
Katie revealed that she struggled to talk about the moment she found her father had been stabbed.
“None of this seems real to me,” she said.
She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is undergoing therapy.
Katie spent months after her father’s death watching hours of footage, from his speeches in the Commons to moments of him enjoying life at a family barbeque.
“I was scared I would forget him but now I know I won’t because I am part of him,” she added.
Katie’s mother, Julia, 70, had to move out of the family home, where they had lived for three decades because it became too difficult for her to stay.
Despite the tragic loss of her dad, the 39-year-old cherishes the time she spent with him.
Katie said: “I just loved spending time with him, and he made so much time for me, having my friends over for a barbecue, organising a party for my every birthday, visiting old country houses.”
Sir David Amess was dubbed “Mr Southend” due to his long-standing campaign to secure city status for Southend, a goal that was achieved when the Queen granted it after his death.
Katie recalled that the family received thousands of letters from residents expressing their sadness over the loss of their beloved MP.
On the day of the attack, Sir David Amess, excited to speak to his constituents, arrived at his surgery at Leigh-on-Sea.
There was no security or police presence.
Ali Harbi Ali travelled by train from his home in North London, and within minutes of arriving and sitting opposite the MP, he stabbed Amess more than 20 times.
Ali was sentenced to spend the rest of life in prison in 2022.
In 2015, when he was 18, Ali was visited by an officer from the Home Office’s Prevent programme, in one of the first of two intended meetings, and had a second scheduled meeting that never happened, before his case was closed in 2016.
A Home Office spokesperson said in a statement: “Our thoughts continue to be with Sir David Amess’ family and friends.
“The attack on Sir David Amess was an awful tragedy, the safety of members of Parliament is paramount, and significant work has been taken forward in response to his tragic killing.
“Prevent is a vital tool to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism and tackles all ideological causes of terrorism.”
