Sir David Amess reported 'upsetting' threat to the police but decided to go ahead with his weekly surgery... just days before he was knifed to death

 Sir David Amess received an 'upsetting' threat in the days before he was fatally stabbed inside a church at a constituency surgery in Essex.

The threat was reported to police, but the Conservative MP decided to go ahead with the surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday. 

It comes as terror suspect Ali Harbi Ali is alleged to have planned the murderous assault on the veteran politician more than a week in advance.  

 Essex Police received a report of the threat, but are not connecting it with Friday's attack, reported The Telegraph.

Conservative MP Sir David Amess is said to have received an 'upsetting' threat in the days before the constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, according to a close colleague

Conservative MP Sir David Amess is said to have received an 'upsetting' threat in the days before the constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, according to a close colleague

Sir David poses at the wedding of his daughter on August 23 earlier this year. He was stabbed multiple times inside a church while meeting constituents in Essex

Sir David poses at the wedding of his daughter on August 23 earlier this year. He was stabbed multiple times inside a church while meeting constituents in Essex

Members of the public including a veteran pay their respects at floral tributes left at the scene of the fatal stabbing

Members of the public including a veteran pay their respects at floral tributes left at the scene of the fatal stabbing

Police officers erect a tent outside a house in north London, thought to be in relation to the death of the Conservative MP. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else

Police officers erect a tent outside a house in north London, thought to be in relation to the death of the Conservative MP. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else

An ongoing investigation into Sir David's death has been focusing on multiple areas including Camden, Croydon and another unspecified address in London

An ongoing investigation into Sir David's death has been focusing on multiple areas including Camden, Croydon and another unspecified address in London

John Lamb, former Leigh-on-Sea mayor and a close colleague of Sir David, said the MP had received an 'upsetting' threat in the few days prior to the killing.

He told the Telegraph: 'The police were alerted about some sort of threat made against Sir David.

'There's been no threat received through the local Conservative Party offices that I know of, but Sir David had received a threat against him. 

'I don't know the nature of it, but it was rather upsetting and the police were alerted. It was in the past few days.'   

Police searched a home in a quiet street in Croydon, south London, on Friday.

Ali, a 25-year-old British Muslim, is understood to have grown up on the street before leaving in his late teens.MP Mark Francois after laying flowers at the scene near Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea

MP Mark Francois after laying flowers at the scene near Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea

A police officer walks at a cordon outside Belfairs Methodist Church, where Sir David was holding a constituency surgery when he was stabbed

A police officer walks at a cordon outside Belfairs Methodist Church, where Sir David was holding a constituency surgery when he was stabbed

He is also thought to have been flagged as part of the Government's anti-terror Prevent programme. 

A neighbour told MailOnline how Ali once told him he worked for the NHS. 

Suspect Ali is the son of a former communications adviser to the prime minister of Somalia. 

Harbi Ali Kullane, confirmed that his son was in police custody following the stabbing and said he was 'traumatised' by the arrest.

Ali may have lived in Sir David's Southend West constituency in Essex in the past.

His most recent residence is believed to be in London, where officers have been carrying out searches at three addresses.

Police officers stand guard at the entrance to a residential building in north London on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation into Sir David's death

Police officers stand guard at the entrance to a residential building in north London on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation into Sir David's death

Police officers staff a cordon next to floral tributes left near the scene of the fatal stabbing

Police officers staff a cordon next to floral tributes left near the scene of the fatal stabbing

Police officers work at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, a district of Southend-on-Sea in Essex

 Police officers work at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, a district of Southend-on-Sea in Essex

A neighbour said: 'This is the house he grew up in. He went to school around here and moved out when he was about 16 or 17-years-old.

‘He worked for the health service - he told me so - but in what capacity I don’t know. I think one of his sisters also works for the NHS. They are a lovely family, it’s such a shock that Ali has been arrested for such a terrible thing.

‘His mum and sisters helped my wife and I during lockdown, they went and got my shopping when I needed it and my medication. They’d do anything to help us.

‘That’s why I can’t understand it all. I last saw Ali around Christmas time last year and he was friendly, asked me how I was. He was a tall lad with quite bushy hair.' 

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