Westminster attack inquests - as they happened: Widow of officer killed by terrorist says police 'left him to die' unarmed on Parliament gates
Coroner to draw up 'prevention of future deaths' report with recommendations for police
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“Shortcomings in security” outside the Houses of Parliament contributed to the death of a police officer during the Westminster attack, a coroner has concluded.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC, the Chief Coroner of England and Wales, said the Metropolitan Police had allowed the entrance PC Keith Palmer was guarding to be neglected by “roving” armed officers.
PC Palmer's widow said he was "left to die", adding: "How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate at one of the most iconic buildings in the world and one of the country’s top terrorist targets?”
Judge Lucraft is to draw up a “prevention of future deaths report” that will contain recommendations for the Metropolitan Police and parliamentary security officials.
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Masood, 52, drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on March 22 last year, killing American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31.
Their relatives expressed hope that "lessons had been learned" from the gruelling three-week inquests.
Delivering his conclusions at the Old Bailey, Judge Lucraft said the two armed officers assigned to the area had not been near Carriage Gates for almost an hour before Khalid Masood struck because they were unaware of official guidance.
“They had been some distance away and out of view of the entrance because they had understood their duty to involve a roving patrol around the yard,” Judge Lucraft said.
“Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates.
“Had they been stationed there, it is possible that they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
PC Palmer's widow said her husband had been “left to die” by security failings and accused authorities of letting “lax security” continue at the Houses of Parliament for years.
In his closing argument, Gareth Patterson QC, for families of victims on the bridge, urged the coroner to make a report on the circumstances of the case to “protect the public”.
On the role of MI5, whose knowledge of Masood has been heavily scrutinised, he said: “We do think there is room for improvement in terms of decision-making.”
He suggested security services should look again at when to investigate suspects and when to stop, and to take account of violent backgrounds.
Mr Patterson also called for the Government to “try again” with tightening rules for hiring cars.
Dominic Adamson, representing PC Palmer's widow Michelle, said that there was “a systematic failure” in protecting unarmed officers on guard at the Palace of Westminster.
Masood's wife covertly recorded conversations including Masood speaking about Isis, and said he had weapons by his bed and in his car
On Facetime on 21 March Masood said he was spending a night with a friend and on the next morning she received "relatively normal" text messages. At 2.30pm she received the "Jihad" document and messaged him to receive no respond
When she saw pictures of the attacker on the ground she immediately identified her husband and called police
She said she knew he had anger issues but did not believe him capable of the attack
Tests found Masood had taken steroids in the week before the attack but not exactly when
Examinations found that he was not suffering from a psychotic disorder and was thinking "logically and rationally" at the time of the attack
Police initially arrested several people including Masood's wife for questioning but found no indication of anyone else being involved in or aware of his plan
Judge Lucraft says the police investigation showed that Masood acted alone.
"Witness L", an MI5 agent who gave evidence anonymously, said a review of their intelligence and operational improvement was undertaken
MI5 had around 3,000 subjects of interest at the time, 20,000 closed SOIs and 500 live investigations at the time of the attack
The review found that Masood's contact details were found with a number of SOIs but there was no suggestion he was involved in their activities and it would not have been "proportionate" to identify him
In 2009 a person called Khalid Masood was identified as assisting terrorist travel to Pakistan, but they were found not to be the same person and his "holding code" was downgraded
By December 2010 MI5 found no evidence he was involved in violent extremism and he was closed as an SOI. There was intelligence he was involved with SOIs but only "on the margins" and nothing to say he was involved in attack planning
Between 2012 and 2016 he appeared "intermittently" as a contact of SOIs but there was no intelligence he was a member of al-Muhajiroun or planning attacks
It was reported he expressed "contentment" with 9/11 and other attacks but MI5 said such statements were "depressingly common" and not sufficient to reopen or launch an SOI investigation
