Funeral for policeman stabbed in terror attack
MURDERED policeman Keith Palmer has been hailed at his funeral as a “hero” whose “blue lamp will shine bright forever”.
The 48-year-old father and husband was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood as he carried out his duties on the cobbled forecourt of the Palace of Westminster.
Around 50 members of PC Palmer’s family, including his wife, child, mother and father, brother and sisters, attended his funeral service at Southwark Cathedral in London, along with Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the manager and captain of his beloved Charlton Athletic FC, Karl Robinson and Johnnie Jackson.
As many as 5,000 officers from the Metropolitan Police and other forces, including a delegation from the New York Police Department, joined the service or lined the cortege route as members of the public looked on.
Thousands more officers and staff at police stations across the country marked two minutes’ silence at 2pm.
His friend and colleague Chief Inspector Neil Sawyer told the congregation: “Keith’s blue lamp will shine bright forever.
“And on behalf of us all we say thank you — Keith made a difference and we will not forget.”
Earlier, PC Palmer’s funeral cortege, including his hearse topped with a floral tribute read- ing “No 1 Daddy”, had left Westminster’s Chapel of St Mary Undercroft through the Carriage Gates he died defending.