The murder of British politician and Member of Parliament Jo Cox, 41, shocked Britain on Thursday. Now police are investigating whether the assailant was a white supremacist, supporter of an anti-Islam right wing group Britain First, or just a mentally disturbed loner.

What happened?

Jo Cox of the British opposition Labour party was leaving a meeting with constituents in northern England on Thursday, when a man armed with what has been described as an antique or handmade gun and a knife attacked her. She later died in the hospital. The killing came as a shock in a country where attacks on politicians are very rare, and gun laws very strict. She leaves behind her husband and two small children.

Remembering Jo Cox https://t.co/Ww6WO5DpzW pic.twitter.com/bOsGyg6ucr

— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) June 17, 2016

Britain First

The suspect Thomas Mair, 52, was arrested a few blocks from the crime scene. Early witnesses reported hearing the assailant shout “Britain First” as he shot and repeatedly stabbed Cox. This is the name of a far right wing group that wants to ban Islam, stop immigration, abolish the human rights act, and advocates for Britain to leave the EU.

Jo Cox was an active advocate for Syrian immigrants, known for her passion for human rights and refugees, as well as her campaigning against Brexit. Britain First released a video denying all involvement with the attack.

JO COX SHOOTING: Britain First official statement – https://t.co/S7etYC2Mmh pic.twitter.com/s2UlWZgxiA

— Britain First (@BritainFirst) June 16, 2016

American White Supremacists

Now reports from the Southern Poverty Law Center, a US based organization that tracks hate groups, claim that Mair bought a book about how to make a homemade gun. He reportedly bought the manual online in 1999 from the American Neo-Nazi group National Alliance, and subscribed to the group’s magazine and an apartheid magazine from South Africa.

Mair also bought a copy of the Nazi handbook “Ich Kampfe,” which is a reference to the infamous “Mein Kampf” by Adolf Hitler and was handed out to new members of the Nazi Party in 1940’s Germany.

British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his condolences on Twitter.

As a mark of respect for Jo Cox MP our flag is flying at half-mast over Number 10 today pic.twitter.com/vpiOEBXOKH

— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) June 17, 2016

A Quiet Man

But neighbors and family describe Mair as a quiet gardener who’s never been in trouble. His half-brother told ITV News “he wouldn’t hurt a fly”. This raises questions of whether Mair was deeply mentally ill, and whether the attack could have prevented with proper mental care. Mair spoke to a local newspaper in 2011 about how his volunteer work for a county park helped him with mental issues:

I can honestly say it has done me more good than all the psychotherapy and medication in the world. Many people who suffer from mental illness are socially isolated and disconnected from society, feelings of worthlessness are also common mainly caused by long-term unemployment.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid a tribute to Cox on Friday.

Today I travelled to Birstall to pay tribute to Jo Cox along with her colleagues, friends & the community she servedhttps://t.co/rnBoaCFif0

— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) June 17, 2016

Neighbor David Pickles also described Mair as a peaceful man who kept to himself.

He’s just quiet. He kept himself to himself. He lived by himself. He’s been on his own for about 20 years. I’ve never seen a lot of people visiting or anything like that, but he likes gardening. He did a lot of people’s gardens round here. But he did it quietly.

In the wake of the murder of Jo Cox, the campaigning for the referendum on Brexit is suspended, but the voting will take place as planned on June 23.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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If you thought “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling only dealt with trolls in her books, you were wrong. The bestselling author first showed a knack for putting online trolls in their place with witty responses when she hilariously mocked Rupert Murdoch’s anti-Muslim tweets in January. Now she’s at it again, but this time it’s in response to some hateful tweets she’s received due to her public support for the U.K’s left-leaning Labour party.

Conservatives haven’t been too happy with her, especially after Rowling decided to donate a reported  £1 million to the “No” campaign, a group which campaigned for Scotland to stay in the the United Kingdom. So when Ed Miliband resigned recently as Labour Party leader following his loss to the conservative party at the 2015 general election, the haters came out in full force to trash Rowling and her political beliefs.

For showing unbelievable guts in the face of impossible odds, @JimForScotland, get in Gryffindor. #NotMuchBloodyComfort

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

According to the Independent, after the results were declared, some online trolls began calling her a “traitor to Scotland” and “Blairite scum.” Rowling apparently reached her breaking point after one person reportedly went as far as tweeting at her “Go f*** yourself you disgusting slimy Labour c***. All you lefties are finished in this country, especially you JK b****face.” That’s when she decided to begin writing back to some of her online haters, and her responses are downright hilarious.

.@sjosiah0 The Internet doesn’t just offer opportunities for misogynistic abuse, you know. Penis enlargers can also be bought discreetly.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

The best thing about her Twitter beefs were the constant Hogwarts houses references, because anytime you can get a few Slytherin jabs in there, it’s bound to be a good time.

@ChrisDarroch2 and you can’t spell “Slytherin”. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

.@ChrisDarroch2 Chris, if you’re this angry in victory, you must really need a hug. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

Luckily, not every person tweeting at the author had something negative to say. A few fans showed their support with some heartfelt tweets that are proof that humanity still exists.

.@JoHorrocks1 All abuse I’m getting is UKIP or Scottish Nationalist. All Tories here saying ‘freedom of speech.’ Credit where credit’s due.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

.@TalieDelemere Of course I do! If we forget our common humanity, we’ve lost something far more important than an election X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 8, 2015

Let’s hope J.K. never stops standing up for what she believes in, and never backs down from a chance to silence her haters with a few clever remarks.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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