The family of murdered MP Sir David Amess have thanked the public and his colleagues for "wonderful" tributes following his murder on Friday.
"The family would like to thank everyone for the wonderful, wonderful tributes paid to David following his cruel and violent death," his family said on Sunday following a church service in his memory.
"We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man," read the family statement released via London's Metropolitan Police Service, which is now investigating the crime.
The family also called for tolerance in the wake of the identification of the suspect as Ali Harbi Ali, the 25-year-old son of a former media and communications director to Somalia's ex-prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire — and that the murder was being investigated as an act of terrorism.
"Set aside hatred and work towards togetherness", the family said. "Whatever one's race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand".
Southend West MP Amess was meeting constituents at his weekly 'surgery' in the town of Leigh-on-Sea when Ali allegedly walked in and stabbed him. Paramedics battled for more than an hour in vain to save him. Police arrested Ali at the scene.