The married mum-of-two, 41, is reportedly in a critical condition after a man attacked her shouting "Britain First"
Labour MP Jo Cox has been shot and injured in an attack reportedly carried out by a man shouting 'Britain First'.
An eyewitness said the 41-year-old mother of two was left lying bleeding on the pavement after being blasted three times by a gunman in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
The man kicked her before fleeing, it has been claimed.
The attack took place near the town's library where she held advice surgeries.
Mrs Cox has been campaigning for Remain in the EU referendum campaign which has now been suspended.
According to reports, a second man was also left lying in the road as armed officers rushed to the scene.
Pictures emerged of a man being tended to by police near to the scene of the shooting.
The man, who is white and wearing a grey t-shirt, can be seen in handcuffs and appears to have been bleeding.
It is not clear if the images relate to the attack on Mrs Cox.
West Yorkshire Police said a 52-year-old man has been arrested.
In a statement the force added: "At 12.53 today, police were called to a report of an incident on Market Street, Birstall, where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition.
"A man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby also suffered slight injuries.
"Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area.
"There are no further details at present.
"Police presence in the area has been increased as a reassurance to the community."
The constituency office for Batley and Spen MP Mrs Cox confirmed she has been injured.
A Labour spokesman said: "We're aware of the incident that happened this afternoon.
"All our thoughts are with Jo Cox and her family.
"We cannot give any further updates at this time."
According to Sky News, she remains in a "critical" condition after being airlifted to hospital.
Mrs Cox, a 41-year-old married mum of two, was elected to office last May.
One Birstall resident wrote on Facebook: "Anyone living in Birstall please stay indoors for now.
"A man has just stabbed a woman then shot her outside the library then shot an old man in stomach.
"The man is armed and dangerous and police everywhere "
Another witness told Sky News, the gunman was aged in 60s or 70s, wearing a baseball cap and wielding a "gun from the first world war or a makeshift gun, not a normal gun you would see normally ."
The witness said: "I heard the first shot and ran away, as everyone else did. Then we heard the second shot.
"We remained in restaurant a couple of minutes.
"Everybody was crying. I'm absolutely shocked."
Another added that the attacker "was seen and heard ranting 'Britain First'" during the incident.
Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library shortly after 1pm when he heard screaming and went outside.
He told the Press Association: "There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag."
After a brief scuffle, he said the man stepped back and the MP became involved.
He added: "He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice and then she fell between two cars and I came and saw her bleeding on the floor."
After around 15 minutes, the shop owner said emergency services arrived and tended to her with a drip.
Amanda Barber, 38, from Birstall, told Mirror.co.uk: “I noticed something different straight away – there were a lot of people running about and cars stopped.
"There was a lady laying on the floor beside a car outside the library with people all around her.
"At one point a woman shouted ‘oh my god, she’s stopped breathing’.
"She wasn’t moving – she was laid down and unconscious, no movement or anything.
"There was a female officer trying to do CPR on her as I left.
"There was also an elderly gentlemen inside a sandwich shop laid on his left side facing the window clutching his stomach.
"I could see blood on the gentleman. There was quite a bit round his stomach area. He was conscious.
"I heard one of the ambulance drivers shout over towards the sandwich shop, ‘what’s his situation?’ and somebody replied that he’s been stabbed and pointed the crew towards the lady.
"It felt very surreal, really really surreal.
"I thought, my god, this is happening in Birstall."
Witness Daniel Blyth, 38, a company director from Birstall, told the Yorkshire Post: “I saw seven police cars racing up Leeds Road towards Morley. They were unmarked BMWs.
“There are two helicopters flying overhead.
“It all seems very dramatic. I have heard that two people have been shot but I’m not who are why. It’s all very unusual for Birstall.”
Ms Cox was holding an advice surgery in Birstall Library between 1pm and 2pm today.
A flood of tributes poured in to the Labour MP on Twitter from politicians of all parties.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn said: "All our thoughts and prayers are with Jo Cox and her family."
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "Utterly, utterly horrific to see reports about Jo Cox. My thoughts and prayers are with her, her family & staff.
Tory MP Stewart Jackson said: "I do hope that MP Jo cox is ok after incident in her constituency. Shocking news."
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: "Utterly awful news about an attack on a superb and wonderful colleague Jo Cox - hoping and praying for her and her family right now".
Former leadership contender Yvette Cooper added: "Terrible, terrible news. Thoughts and prayers with good friend Jo & with her family."
Labour MP John Mann said: "Appallingly news about the attack on Jo Cox in her constituency. Here's hoping she is ok from me and all my constituents."
Shadow Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: "Dreadful, dreadful news coming in about my good friend Jo Cox. I really hope all ok. Awful."
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