Inquest jurors upset by video of Westminster terror attack

Jurors at the inquest into the death of Westminster attacker Khalid Masood were visibly upset as they viewed graphic video of his murderous rampage.

In just 82 seconds, the 52-year-old Muslim convert mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four and seriously injuring 29 more, before stabbing an unarmed police guard at the Palace of Westminster.

The inquest heard how crowds fled in terror after Masood crashed his Hyundai Tucson into railings and lumbered towards the Palace of Westminster gates armed with two large knives.

Pc Keith Palmer was on duty at the Carriage Gates and stepped forward to confront him.

The officer was driven back and stumbled by a low wall where he was repeatedly stabbed by Masood.

He managed to get away when a colleague distracted the knifeman but collapsed nearby in a pool of blood.

Meanwhile, two armed bodyguards had rushed to the scene and shouted a warning for Masood to stop.

When he failed to comply, one of the close protection officers opened fire.

The inquest into Masood’s death followed the conclusion of hearings for victims Pc Palmer, 48, American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian designer Andreea Cristea, 31.

Detective Superintendent John Crossley played CCTV footage capturing the events of the afternoon of March 22 last year.

Grim-faced jurors appeared shocked when they saw people thrown into the air as Masood swerved on to the pavement to hit them on the bridge.

Some held their heads in their hands on seeing Mrs Frade being struck from behind and sent flying into the path of a bus.

Jurors were also shown the dramatic moment Masood was fatally shot in New Palace Yard.

Images of the close protection officers were blurred out to protect their identities but their guns were clearly visible.

Mr Crossley said an extensive investigation involving more than 1,300 officers and the collection of thousands of hours of CCTV footage had concluded Masood acted alone.

Earlier, Chief Coroner Mark Lucraft QC told jurors they would be required to come to conclusions about the identity of the deceased, when, where and how he died.

But he warned: “You are not allowed to express an opinion on other matters.

“Nobody is on trial here – and inquest does not decide matters of criminal liability. There is no question of attributing blame.”

He added: “Please keep an open mind. Do not jump to conclusions.”

Witnesses will include the close protection officers, who will give evidence anonymously, as well as people involved in Masood’s medical care after he was shot.

Before being sworn in, the coroner pointed out the press sitting in the dock of Court One of the Old Bailey.

There were wry smiles from journalists as he told jurors: “Don’t worry about the ladies and gentlemen in the dock. They are not defendants. They are the press. They are just sitting there for convenience.”