Tributes pour in for victims of London attack
London’s terror attack claimed the life of a police officer and three civilians.
Pc Keith Palmer,
the policeman stabbed to death defending Parliament, will be considered for a posthumous honour after he made “the ultimate sacrifice”, Prime Minister Theresa May has said, as it emerged he had previously saved the life of a fellow officer.
Pc Palmer’s family paid tribute to “a wonderful Dad and husband”, while May said he had “devoted his life to the service of his country”.
The Conservative MP James Cleverly, who previously served in the Army with Pc Palmer, was close to tears in the Commons as he remembered the “strong, professional public servant” who was a “delight” to spend time with.
Pc Palmer’s family released a tribute to the former soldier, who was married with a five-year-old daughter.
They said: “Keith will be remembered as a wonderful dad and husband. A loving son, brother and uncle, a long-time supporter of Charlton FC, dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous, a friend to everyone who knew him.
“He will be deeply missed. We love him so much. His friends and family are shocked and devastated by his loss.”
Kurt Cochran
was a hardworking family man who nevertheless lived his dream.
The rock-obsessed American, who ran his own music studio, was enjoying the final day of a trip with his wife to celebrate the couple’s 25th anniversary.
But as dusk fell on Wednesday, Kurt, 54, lay dead at the mouth of a concrete underpass beneath Westminster Bridge, while a shattered Melissa, 46, was being treated in hospital for a broken leg, ribs and cuts to the head.
It is believed Cochran either jumped from the bridge to avoid Khalid Masood’s rampaging 4x4, or he was pushed.
The couple, who live near Salt Lake City, Utah, had already visited Germany, Holland, Ireland and Scotland and had been excitedly sharing photographs of their trip with friends on social media.
Yesterday, however, a distraught relative, Shantell Payne, used the same platform to break the news of Mr Cochran’s death.
“With a heavy heart I must pass the sad news of our beautiful brother, father, husband, son and friend Kurt Cochran, he could not overcome the injuries he received in the London terror attacks,” wrote a relative, Shantell Payne. “This pain is so heart wrenching and raw it has rocked our family and all that knew him to its core. We will miss Kurt beyond words.”
Aysha Frade
was strolling across Westminster Bridge to collect her children from school when Khalid Masood’s 4x4 roared onto the footpath and snatched her life away.
She had just come from work, a school itself, where she dedicated herself to helping youngsters learn the language and culture of her family’s native Spain.
Thursday, in the quiet Galician town of Betanzos, more than 100 locals, burdened by “tragedy and enormous pain”, gathered in silence to remember the 43-year-old.
Back in London, the life of John Frade, her Portugueseborn husband, had “completely fallen apart”, according to a cousin.
The cousin, also called John, said: “I can’t even put it into words how he’s feeling. His life’s completely fallen apart because of what’s happened. They’ve got young kids.
“When I heard I was just absolutely shocked. I’m still just feeling terrible, it’s a terrible thing to happen and you just don’t expect it to happen so close to home in this way.”
Mr Frade now must face bringing up his children, aged eight and 11, without their mother, who was described by those who knew her as kind and “the most upstanding member of society”.
London police say a 75-year-old man also died of his wounds Thursday.