Stephen Timms, the MP for East Ham in London, is in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed by a crazed woman.
The Labour Party's Mr Timms was holding his surgery - where members of the public get to speak to him about constituency issues concerning them - in the East End when the 21-year-old Muslim woman, wearing a burkha, stabbed in twice in the stomach.
The woman has been subsequently named as Roshonara Choudhary, and she will appear before Stratford magistrates' court on Monday, Scotland Yard said.
Mr Timms was taken to the Royal London Hospital where his condition is said to be not life threatening.
Stephen Timms MP is stabbed
By MIKE SULLIVAN
Crime Editor
14 May 2010
Stabbed ... Stephen Timms
LABOUR MP Stephen Timms was stabbed in the stomach by a crazed knifewoman.
The former senior Government finance minister was attacked during a surgery at his East Ham constituency in London's East End.
As an appointment with a 21-year-old woman ended at 3.20pm, she produced a knife and plunged it into the 54-year-old MP.
Police were called and the young woman was arrested at the local council services centre in Beckton.
Labour ... Stephen Timms with gormless Ed Miliband, who is running for the Labour leadership
She is being assessed by doctors over her mental state.
Meanwhile, Mr Timms was taken by ambulance to The Royal London Hospital. His condition is not said to be life-threatening.
But one source said: "He could easily have been killed if the knife had gone in a inch or two away.
"It was a terrible thing to happen and he is lucky to be alive."
Mr Timms, who has been MP for the area since 1994, when the constituency was previously known as Newham North East, holds a surgery at the offices on the second Friday of every month.
It is unknown why the woman wanted to see him — or if she had any particular complaint.
However, she is said to have become angry towards the end of her meeting with Mr Timms and then pulled out a knife and attacked him.
Until last week, Mr Timms was Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Digital Britain.
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman gave her best wishes to Mr Timms and his wife this afternoon.
She said: "One of the great strengths of the British political system is the every day accessibility of MPs to their constituents, but we can't have a situation where MPs are at risk.
"Parliament needs to consider how best to ensure MPs can carry out their responsibilities safely."
A Labour Party spokesman added: "Stephen would like to express his thanks and gratitude to both the staff at Beckton Globe for their assistance, and the ambulance and hospital staff for their fantastic care."
Mr Timms has regularly spoken out against knife crime in his constituency, particularly among young people.
In 2006, he spoke at an event to mark the death of 15-year-old Charlotte Polius, who was stabbed while walking in the street the previous year.
He supported Labour legislation which gave teachers the power to search pupils for weapons and raised the age at which a knife could be purchased legally to 18.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A 21-year-old woman was arrested
following the stabbing of a man at a local service centre in Kingsford way, Beckton.
"She currently remains in hospital. The victim was taken to hospital. His condition is not life threatening."
thesun.co.uk
The Labour Party's Mr Timms was holding his surgery - where members of the public get to speak to him about constituency issues concerning them - in the East End when the 21-year-old Muslim woman, wearing a burkha, stabbed in twice in the stomach.
The woman has been subsequently named as Roshonara Choudhary, and she will appear before Stratford magistrates' court on Monday, Scotland Yard said.
Mr Timms was taken to the Royal London Hospital where his condition is said to be not life threatening.
Stephen Timms MP is stabbed
By MIKE SULLIVAN
Crime Editor
14 May 2010
Stabbed ... Stephen Timms
LABOUR MP Stephen Timms was stabbed in the stomach by a crazed knifewoman.
The former senior Government finance minister was attacked during a surgery at his East Ham constituency in London's East End.
As an appointment with a 21-year-old woman ended at 3.20pm, she produced a knife and plunged it into the 54-year-old MP.
Police were called and the young woman was arrested at the local council services centre in Beckton.
Labour ... Stephen Timms with gormless Ed Miliband, who is running for the Labour leadership
She is being assessed by doctors over her mental state.
Meanwhile, Mr Timms was taken by ambulance to The Royal London Hospital. His condition is not said to be life-threatening.
But one source said: "He could easily have been killed if the knife had gone in a inch or two away.
"It was a terrible thing to happen and he is lucky to be alive."
Mr Timms, who has been MP for the area since 1994, when the constituency was previously known as Newham North East, holds a surgery at the offices on the second Friday of every month.
It is unknown why the woman wanted to see him — or if she had any particular complaint.
However, she is said to have become angry towards the end of her meeting with Mr Timms and then pulled out a knife and attacked him.
Until last week, Mr Timms was Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Digital Britain.
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman gave her best wishes to Mr Timms and his wife this afternoon.
She said: "One of the great strengths of the British political system is the every day accessibility of MPs to their constituents, but we can't have a situation where MPs are at risk.
"Parliament needs to consider how best to ensure MPs can carry out their responsibilities safely."
A Labour Party spokesman added: "Stephen would like to express his thanks and gratitude to both the staff at Beckton Globe for their assistance, and the ambulance and hospital staff for their fantastic care."
Mr Timms has regularly spoken out against knife crime in his constituency, particularly among young people.
In 2006, he spoke at an event to mark the death of 15-year-old Charlotte Polius, who was stabbed while walking in the street the previous year.
He supported Labour legislation which gave teachers the power to search pupils for weapons and raised the age at which a knife could be purchased legally to 18.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A 21-year-old woman was arrested
following the stabbing of a man at a local service centre in Kingsford way, Beckton.
"She currently remains in hospital. The victim was taken to hospital. His condition is not life threatening."
thesun.co.uk