SIR DAVID Amess' links to Qatar are being examined by police following his tragic killing on Friday.

As part of the counter-terrorism investigation, the Southend West MP's links to the Gulf state of Qatar are being examined by police as part of a drive to analyse all avenues over why he was targeted, according to the Times newspaper.

The paper reported that it is one of several lines of inquiry being investigated, quoting Whitehall sources as saying a “clear reason on why he was targeted has not been established.”

Sir David was chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary British-Qatar Group, with his most recent visit to the nation being last week, according to images published on the group’s Twitter page.

The MP referenced the visit in one of his last tweets, writing: “As Chairman of Qatar APPG, I was very pleased to meet the Emir during our recent delegation to Doha.”

The State of Qatar published a statement on Sunday condemning the attack, stating it considered his stabbing “a horrific crime and a clear violation of human rights.”

Other reports meanwhile suggested the attack was random.

The Telegraph said the politician was not “specifically targeted” but is believed to have been chosen as part of a plot to murder “any MP.”

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment.