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Alleged shooter of British MP Jo Cox gives name as 'death to traitors' in court

By Daniel Uria
Thomas Mair, the alleged shooter of 41-year-old British Member of Parliament Jo Cox stated his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" when asked in court on Saturday. Mair, 52, also declined to offer his date of birth or address when asked and did not enter a plea. 
 Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Thomas Mair, the alleged shooter of 41-year-old British Member of Parliament Jo Cox stated his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" when asked in court on Saturday. Mair, 52, also declined to offer his date of birth or address when asked and did not enter a plea. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

WESTMINSTER, England, June 18 (UPI) -- The suspected shooter of British Member of Parliament Jo Cox delivered a message when asked his name in court on Saturday.

Thomas Mair, 52, declined to speak when asked his date of birth and address , but when asked for his name replied, "My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

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According to CNN, Mair's attorney Keith Allen said there was no indication of what plea he would enter. He was not required to enter one on Saturday and did the judge ask for one.

Police said he was charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense and possession of an offensive weapon after allegedly shooting and stabbing the 41-year-old Cox on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot ordered Mair remain in custody until his next court appearance.

Authorities were also investigating Mair's ties to right-wing extremism as well as neo-Nazi and white supremacy groups after he reportedly called upon a far-right organiztion by shouting "Britain first!" during and after the attack.

Police said the shooting seemed to be "appears to be an isolated, but targeted attack," as Cox's support of British multiculturalism and remaining in the European Union conflicted with the far-right and anti-Muslim views of the Britain first group.

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