The man charged with fatally shooting and stabbing British lawmaker Jo Cox said in court Saturday his name is "death to traitors, freedom for Britain." His actual name is Thomas Mair, and he reportedly has ties to neo-Nazi and white supremacist organizations in the United States.
Particularly after this statement, Mair's actions are believed to be politically motivated, as Cox was a visible opponent of Britain exiting the European Union and a supporter of Syrian refugees. Mair's "freedom for Britain" phase echoes the language of Brexit proponents, whose cause has the backing of about half of the British public.
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