POLICE REOPEN FARAGE FIREBOMB INQUIRY LINKED TO WIDDECOMBE MURDER PROBE

Counter Terrorism Policing London has reopened an investigation into an attack on Nigel Farage's home in Greater London reported in April 2025, after identifying a line of inquiry that was not pursued during the initial investigation. The incident involved a lit incendiary device posted through the letterbox of the Reform UK leader's address. The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing initially investigated the matter as an attempted burglary, made no arrests, and closed the case pending new information. Farage, who was not home at the time, later described the attack as an "outright arson attempt" and stated that the device "had burned itself out on the porch".

The reopening occurred after the case was linked to detectives investigating the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe. Counter Terrorism Policing London said it had identified a line of inquiry "which may have been relevant" but was not identified and pursued at the time. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, is now investigating the conduct of a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member following an allegation that the employee failed to identify and pursue the relevant line of inquiry. A source told one outlet that there had been "a very serious policing error" prompting the referral to the IOPC, described as "unprecedented".

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform, stated that police forces have not taken threats against his party's figures seriously enough. Tice told The Telegraph that authorities had only recently addressed abuse and intimidation targeting Reform members, despite multiple examples provided previously. He added that he had been fortunate regarding a particular incident he faced the previous year. Farage's description as "horrified" by the policing error was reported by sources close to him.