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.
“We offer our sincere condolences to Ms. Cox’s family and friends and all the British people,” he said.
Kirby was asked if the State Department was growing more nervous about the June 23 “Brexit” vote, but said he “wouldn’t call it worry.”
“This is an internal matter for the British people, and British police, law enforcement officials are obviously extraordinarily capable and competent at their jobs,” he said.
And when asked if the U.K. maybe shouldn’t hold the vote amid these new tensions, Kirby declined to answer.
“It’s a decision for British leaders to speak to, not us,” he said.
