State Dept. 'shocked and appalled' at British MP murder

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the Obama administration was surprised by the brutal murder of a British member of Parliament Thursday morning, and had no further comment about what her death might mean for next week’s U.K. vote on whether to exit the European Union.

“We were shocked and appalled that a member of the U.K. Parliament, Ms. Jo Cox, was murdered today in Birstall near Leeds in northern England, while doing her duty,” Kirby said.