LONDON — Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex, BBC reported on Friday.

Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the stabbing at a church in Leigh-on-Sea.

They said they recovered a knife and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Sir David, 69, had been an MP since 1983 and was married with five children.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he was "a great man, a great friend, and a great MP killed while fulfilling his democratic role".

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: "Rest In Peace Sir David.

"You were a champion for animal welfare, the less fortunate, and the people of Southend West. You will be missed by many."

Sir David, who represented Southend West, was holding a constituency surgery — where voters can meet their MP and discuss concerns — at Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North.

Essex Police said they received reports of a stabbing shortly after 12:05 BST and found a man injured.

He was treated by emergency services but died at the scene.

Sir David is the second sitting MP to be killed in the last five years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. She was killed outside a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire where she was due to hold a constituency surgery.

Southend councillor John Lamb told the BBC that Sir David moved his surgeries to different locations around the constituency "to meet the people" and said the attack was "absolutely dreadful".

"We've lost a very good, hard working constituency MP who worked for everyone," he said.

"It didn't matter who you were, it didn't matter about your religion or your culture. If you had a problem he would work for you."

Flags around Parliament will be flown at half-mast.

A Conservative backbencher for nearly forty years, Sir David entered Parliament in 1983 as the MP for Basildon.

He held the seat in 1992, but switched to nearby Southend West at the 1997 election.

Raised as a Roman Catholic, he was known politically as a social conservative and as a prominent campaigner against abortion and on animal welfare issues.

He was also known for his championing of Southend, including a long-running campaign to win city status for the town.