London terror attacker Khalid Masood died from a shot to chest from brave security officer, inquest hears
THE killer behind the deadly terror attack in Westminster died from a gunshot wound to the chest fired by a brave security officer who guards the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, an inquest confirmed.
Khalid Masood, 52, mowed down crowds on Westminster Bridge and stabbed policeman Keith Palmer to death outside Parliament.
An inquest at Westminster Coroners Court heard today that Masood "died from a gunshot wound" to the chest fired by a police firearms officer after stabbing PC Palmer.
It emerged that Masood was shot by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon's "armed security detail" after he rushed through Carriage Gates.
The inquest learned Kent-born Masood, who lived in Birmingham earlier mounted the kerb twice in a Hyundai car as he sped across Westminster Bridge.
He then mounted it a third time, crashing, and then charged into the Palace of Westminster grounds armed with two knives.
In total his attack, which left four people dead, lasted just 82 seconds and injured more than 35 people in the capital.
Adjourning the inquest to May 19, senior coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said: "I take a moment to pass my sympathies to the family of Masood, who are also all victims of this incident."
The hearing was told Masood was taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, and his time of death was 3.55 pm, around 70 minutes after he launched the attack.
DS John Crossley, from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said: "The male (Masood) attacked a police officer (PC Palmer) with one of the knives, causing grave wounds.
"The male was then shot and killed by another officer.
DC Crossley said that a post mortem examination was held into the death of Masood at St Thomas' Hospital on March 23, which found the provisional cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the chest.
This inquest, which was opened and adjourned today, heard more than 1,500 people were considered potential witnesses and Masood was identified through finger prints and DNA.
Today University of Sussex has confirmed that Masood had been an economics degree student between 1994 and 1997 there, using his birth name of Adrian Russell Elms.
The university said they are helping the Metropolitan Police with enquiries.
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Officials said Masood was inspired by “Islamic terrorism” before he mowed down crowds on Westminster Bridge and stabbed policeman Keith Palmer to death outside Parliament.
The Westminster terrorist was previously known to security services and had once been investigated by MI5 over violent extremism.
Theresa May admitted there was no prior intelligence of the deadly attack at Parliament, which has since been claimed by ISIS.
The PM revealed in Parliament that MI5 intelligence chiefs had previously investigated Masood but dismissed him as a “peripheral figure”.
The man, who had previously grown up as an English teacher called Adrian Russell Ajao, had a rap sheet which included stabbing a man in the face in a 2003 row plus assaults, criminal damage and public order offences.
His mother was questioned by cops but maintained that she was too upset and couldn't comment on the horrific incident.
The fourth victim of the Westminster terror attack, who died from a "catalogue" of injuries, was pictured when the inquest opened this week.
Leslie Rhodes, 75, suffered catastrophic injuries when extremist Khalid Masood rammed into victims on Westminster Bridge.
Mum-of-two Aysha Frade, 44, PC Palmer, 48, and Kurt Cochran, 54 were also killed in the devastating attack that shook London last week.
The initial inquest heard an outline of the circumstances of the afternoon terror that unfolded on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement police said: "The driver mounted the pavement twice in an apparently deliberate attempt to target pedestrians before mounting the pavement for a final time and crashing the car into the east perimeter gates of the Palace of Westminster.
"The man then left the car armed with two large knives and ran into the vehicle entrance gateway known as Carriage Gates, at the north perimeter fence of the Palace of Westminster."
In devastating detail, police said that the terrorist, named as Khalid Masood, armed himself with two large knives before attacking cop Keith Palmer.
Police said: "The injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to extensive bone and skull fractures."
American tourist Kurt Cochran and mum Aysha Frade both died at the scene while retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes later died of his injuries.
One further person remains in hospital in a coma, suffering extensive injuries.
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