Westminster attacker told mother: ‘They’ll say I’m a terrorist, I’m not’

Days before killing five people in a car and knife attack on Westminster Bridge, Khalid Masood told his mother: “They’ll say I’m a terrorist. I’m not.”

The detail from the final days of the attacker, who was shot dead after knifing PC Keith Palmer to death, were heard at the Old Bailey during the eighth day of inquests into the 22 March 2017 atrocity.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown told the court that Masood’s final visit to his mother, Janet Ajao, in Wales was a likely a “goodbye visit”.

The police officer added: “As he was leaving the house on March 17 he turned over his shoulder and said, ‘they will say I’m a terrorist. I’m not.”‘

The court heard evidence detailing the life of Massod leading up to the attack – from his violent youth and periods in prison to his final journey, via his mother’s home, to Westminster.

Masood was an “angry person” who would “go out looking for a fight”, according to his mother, who said she was “worried he would kill someone through fighting”.

In the days before the attack he also told his children he would “die fighting for God” and searched for a Calor gas centre – leading DCI Brown to tell the Old Bailey is was “possible” he planned to use gas as a weapon.

Born Adrian Russell Elms in Lewisham, the would-be attacker changed his name in 2005 and had a long history of arrest on numerous charges, including criminal damage, assault, and possession of offensive weapons.

His mother said she was “worried he would kill someone through fighting,” according to a statement read by DCI Brown, a counter-terror officer.

The violent incidents proceeded to escalate, the court heard, becoming more serious.

In 2003 he stabbed Daniel Smith in the face with a carving knife with such forced the handle broke, plunging the blade through the palate of his mouth, tongue and jaw.

He claimed self-defence and was acquitted of attempted murder, and was released from West Lewes prison in 2003.

After jail he described his religion as Muslim, and married. But his relationship was described as a disaster from the honeymoon, and by 2006 he had moved with his second wife to Saudi Arabia.

In the days before the attack, Masood was seen on CCTV buying the two knives that he used to stab PC Palmer at a branch of Tesco in Birmingham.

He was also seen at a car hire company where he hired the Hyundai Tuscon SUV he used in the deadly assault.

(c) Sky News 2018: Westminster attacker told mother: ‘They’ll say I’m a terrorist, I’m not’