Spotlight: UK police charges suspect with murder in killing anti-Brexit lawmaker

British police said Saturday they had charged a man with the murder of anti-Brexit lawmaker Jo Cox and began to investigate possible links with right-wing extremism.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday said that an exit from the Europe Union (EU) would likely bring Britain substantial economic and financial costs.

CHARGING SUSPECT

West Yorkshire Police said on its website that Thomas Mair, 52, had been charged with the murder of the 41-year-old Labour ParTy lawmaker Jo Cox, mother of two.

"We have now charged a man with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon," West Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen said in a statement.

Cox, who supported the "remain" bid in the upcoming referendum and was opposed to nationalistic anti-immigration views, was slain in Birstall, West Yorkshire, by the reclusive gardener, who allegedly has decades-old ties to a neo-Nazi movement and an interest in anarchist weapons literature.

West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins said authorities are inquiring into Mair's history of mental illness, as well as his links to right-wing extremism and interest in neo-Nazi materials.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a U.S.-based civil rights group that monitors hate groups, said Mair had been a supporter of the National Alliance, "the most dangerous and violent neo-Nazi group in the United States for decades."

The suspect's brother, Scott Mair, has told reporters that his brother had a history of mental illness, but was not violent.

Mair was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, Wallen said.

IMF'S WARNING

With less than a week to go before the June 23 referendum, the IMF said in a research report released on Friday that the British economy would fall 0.8 percent in 2017 in an adverse scenario if Britain leaves the EU, while the economy would grow 2.2 percent in 2017 should it remain.

The report also said following a decision to exit, Britain would need to negotiate the terms of its withdrawal and a new relationship with the EU. These processes and their eventual outcomes could remain unresolved for years, weighing heavily on investment and economic sentiment.

It estimated the British economy would likely experience reduced trade, investment and productivity in the long run, because the barriers to trade and investment would increase after an exit from the EU.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Friday also called on Britain to stay in the EU.

REMAIN OR LEAVE?

Following Cox's death, both the "remain" and "leave" camps suspended their campaigns until Sunday. Prime Minister David Cameron joined shocked Brits in Birstall to lay flowers in tribute to the late lawmaker

"We should treasure and value our democracy," he said, urging the British people to drive intolerance and division "out of our public life and out of our community."

Along with Cameron, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also paid tribute to Cox, saying the killing of Mrs Cox was "an attack on democracy."

U.S. President Barack Obama phoned Cox's husband Brendan Cox a day after the tragedy, condemning the "heinous" murder, offering condolences and praising his wife's "selfless service."

As the suspect shouted "Britain First" while attacking Cox, some media said that Cox appears to be the first victim of the Brexit campaign.

According to a telephone poll released on Friday and conducted between June 10-15, support for Britain to stay in the European Union was leading by almost 7 points over those advocating withdrawal from the 28-member bloc.

The poll, by BMG for The Herald, showed "remain" with 53.3 percent support and "leave" with 46.7 percent. The poll of 1,064 adults excluded the "don't knows."

But a separate online poll by BMG conducted before Thursday's murder of Cox showed the "leave" camp leading by 10 points. Endit