Westminster attack: MPs were metres away from terrorist Khalid Masood's knife rampage, new report reveals

Female MP who witnessed atrocity says bodyguard who shot Khalid Masood 'undoubtedly saved many lives'

Police outside the House of Commons following the Westminster attack on 22 March 2017 (PA)

Two MPs were metres away from the Westminster attacker as he stabbed a police officer to death outside the Houses of Parliament, a new report has revealed.

The unnamed politicians gave witness statements to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which concluded that a close protection officer “had no reasonable option” but to shoot Khalid Masood.

The 52-year-old terrorist had already killed four victims with his car on Westminster Bridge, before crashing and running through parliament’s Carriage Gates entrance armed with two large knives on 22 March 2017.

One MP, codenamed “Mrs D” for the purposes of anonymity, was walking nearby in New Palace Yard when she heard noise that she initially assumed to be protesters.

“Mrs D stated she saw Masood burst into the area from the main gate, moving rapidly although not ‘necessarily running’, towards the door to the House of Commons,” the IOPC’s report said.

“Mrs D stated that she then heard another voice shout ‘stop’… Masood continued to run.”

She then saw the close protection officer raise both arms and heard gunshots, before Masood fell to the ground.

The MP described a feeling of relief to the IOPC and said the bodyguard’s “calmness and skill undoubtedly saved many lives”.

Another MP, codenamed “Mr O”, was walking into the House of Commons for a vote when he saw a large number of people moving around and felt a “sense of panic in the air”.

He said he heard gunshots before seeing a man he later knew to be Masood fall to the floor, when he headed inside.

The only MP previously known to have witnessed the aftermath of the atrocity was defence minister Tobias Ellwood, who ran into New Palace Yard after Masood was shot and gave PC Keith Palmer first aid.

The officer died of his injuries at the scene and Masood was declared dead in hospital after being shot in the chest by a minister’s bodyguard, known as SA74.

The IOPC conducted a report into the incident automatically because it involved the fatal use of force by police, but found no wrongdoing.

Regional director Sarah Green said: “Officer SA74 ran towards sounds of a disturbance and then placed himself between Masood, who was carrying two large knives, and the officers he was pursuing.

“It is clear he had no reasonable option but to shoot Masood, and it is also clear he acted swiftly and professionally to protect the public and fellow officers.

“Officer SA74 and his colleagues acted with immense personal bravery, and I wish to record my deep sorrow for the tragic loss of PC Palmer, as well as the other victims of Masood’s terrible actions on that day.”

An inquest into Masood’s death found he was lawfully killed, while separate inquests into those of his victims found that PC Palmer may have been saved if the Metropolitan Police had stationed armed officers on Carriage Gates.

Scotland Yard has since reviewed security around the Houses of Parliament and Mark Lucraft QC, the chief coroner of England and Wales, is writing a “prevention of future deaths” report.

The IOPC’s report said witnesses described unarmed police officers “calling for firearms support” as they ran from Masood.

SA74 moved towards the scene of the attack after hearing the sound of the car crash and shouting, and ordered Masood to drop his knives before opening fire.

“Masood presented an imminent and serious threat to the lives of SA74 and others,” the IOPC concluded, saying that the terrorist was moving towards the close protection officer as he was shot.

“There is no indication that any of the three shots fired amounted to an unreasonable degree of force or that he continued firing for any longer than necessary.”

Another plain-clothed protection officer was pointing his handgun at Masood at the same time, and said he had his finger on the trigger as SA74 opened fire.

Another witness, who was visiting parliament at the time, described Masood’s attack as “savage”, and said the officer “did what he had to do”.

“If he didn’t pull the gun out and give the guy two bullets then, other people would have died,” he told the IOPC.

Sir Craig Mackey, who was acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at the time, was also at the scene and locked himself in a car with colleagues during the attack because they were unarmed.

The atrocity, which lasted 82 seconds in total, left five victims dead.

American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, were hit by Masood’s car on Westminster Bridge, where 29 other people were seriously injured. The terrorist then stabbed PC Palmer to death.

The atrocity was the first to be claimed by Isis in the UK and was followed by four other terror attacks in London and Manchester that year.

But Masood, who was linked to members of Anjem Choudary’s banned al-Muhajiroun group, did not declare allegiance to the group in a “jihad” document sent to contacts before the attack.