Jo Cox dead: Labour MP dies after shooting and stabbing in Birstall, West Yorkshire - latest updates

Ms Cox is understood to be in a serious condition at Leeds General Infirmary.

BBC Look North has tweeted video of an extensive police escort for the ambulance arriving at the hospital.

There is now an armed presence at the hospital.

An eye witness told the Yorkshire Post the victim was "in a bad state".

Hichem Ben-Abdallah, owner of the nearby Azzuro restaurant, rushed to the scene after the first shot.

She said: “They’ve taken the victim to hospital - she’s in a bad state.

“I had customers. I was just serving them drinks, then all of a sudden we heard screaming.

“I saw a river of people rushing down the hill. They were screaming - and pulling something behind a car."

Another witness has told Sky a 65 to 70-year-old man wearing a baseball cap pulled a gun, which he described as looking like a "First World War gun" or "homemade". He said there were two shots - he saw the first, he and others ran away and then heard a second shot.

Hithem Ben Abdallah, 56, says the MP intervened in a row between two men when she was shot. 

He said: "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 said: "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."

Police say a 52-year-old man has been arrested, according to BBC News.

And Dame Rosie Winterton has confirmed to reporters that Jo Cox is in a "critical condition".

Another eyewitness, this time on BBC News, has rejected earlier reports that Ms Cos intervened in an argument between two men.

"The altercation was always between the guy carrying the gun and the lady that got shot," he said.

"He purposefully set about attacking her. From what I saw it was just straight outside the library, he looked as though he'd been waiting for her." 

Here is the statement of West Yorkshire Police's chief constable, Dee Collins, in full:

Just before 1pm today, Jo Cox was attacked in Market Street, Birstall.

I am now very sad to report that she has died as a result of her injuries.

I would like to express our deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this time.

Jo Was attacked by a man who inflicted serious and, sadly, ultimately fatal injuries.

Subsequently there was a further attack on a 77-year-old man nearby, who sustained injuries that are non life-threatening.

Shortly afterwards, a man was arrested nearby by local uniformed police officers. 

Weapons, including a firearm, have also been recovered.

At 1.48pm Jo Cox was pronounced deceased by a doctor who was working with a paramedic crew that were attending to her serious injuries.

This is a very significant investigation with large numbers of witnesses that are being spoken to by police at this time, and there is a large police presence in the area.

A full investigation is underway to establish the motive of this attack.

There are specifically trained officers with Jo's immediate family who are fully aware of what has taken place, and we would ask the media to respect their privacy at this very difficult time.

Additional officers are working this afternoon and evening in order to provide reassurance to our communities.

Clearly as this inquiry is at a very early stage and we have an individual under arrest, we are not in a position to discuss any motive at this time.

We are not looking for anyone else in connection to this incident at present. 

Downing Street has confirmed all campaigning in relation to the EU referendum next week has been suspended until Saturday at the earliest.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has spoken to those gathered at Parliament Square as part of a vigil to pay tribute to Jo Cox.

In his speech, Mr Corbyn called Ms Cox's husband's statement "beautiful and moving".

MPs including Stella Creasy and Tom Watson lit candles and laid flowers.

Those gathered recited the 23rd psalm "the Lord is my shepherd” led by a Priest.