UPDATE - UK Labour lawmaker 'in critical condition' after attack

UPDATES WITH DETAIL, REACTION, EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT, POLICE STATEMENT

LONDON (AA) – A U.K. opposition lawmaker is in a critical condition after apparently being shot on the street in her electoral district, police say.

Labour Party MP Jo Cox suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized following the attack on Thursday afternoon in the town of Birstall, near Leeds in northern England.

A 52-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Cox has been the member of parliament for Batley and Spen, a region that includes Birstall, since May 2015. She had held a meeting with some of her constituents minutes before the attack, the BBC reported.

Witness Clarke Rothwell, who runs a nearby café, told the broadcaster that he believed she was shot multiple times and stabbed.

“Three times she was shot, the initial time which then she dropped to the floor and two more times. The third time he got [in] close proximity [and] he shot her around the head area,” he said.

West Yorkshire Police said its officers were called to the area at 12.53 p.m. local time (1153 GMT) “where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition”.

A statement continued: “Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area. There are no further details at present.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “utterly shocked” by news of the attack.

“The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time,” he wrote on Twitter.

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Very concerned about reports Jo Cox has been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jo and her family.”

The two groups canvassing for votes ahead of Britain’s EU referendum next week announced they were suspending their campaigns for the rest of the day.