Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
How could Keith have been left in a vulnerablelocation, with no protection, to die?
PC widow blames senior officers for ‘lax security’
PC Keith Palmer was left “with no protection, to die” when he was murdered in the Westminster attack, his widow said yesterday.
Michelle Palmer blamed senior officers for “lax security” after chief coroner Mark Lucraft QC found her husband may have been saved if armed officers had been stationed close to him.
PC Palmer, 48, was “alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate”, she added. He was stabbed by a terrorist with two footlong knives at the Palace of Westminster.
The inquest had heard two armed officers tasked with patrolling New Palace Yard had not been near Carriage Gates for nearly an hour before.
Ms Palmer said: “He was left at a vulnerable location with no protection, to die.
“That there were no firearms officers there for nearly an hour is hard to believe.”
Referring to their six-yearold daughter, she added: “I truly believe that if they had been there he would still be here today and Amy wouldn’t have lost her daddy.
“How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate at one of the most iconic buildings in the world and one of the top terrorist targets?”
Ms Palmer said it was “disappointing” police “haven’t been very open” about their probe into security arrangements. She added: “Nobody wants to take responsibility for leaving one their own officers unprotected when they knew that police officers were at risk of attack at this vulnerable location.
“What makes it even of worse is this lax security had been carrying on for years and it has taken what happened for things to change.”
Khalid Masood, 52, mowed down four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a 4x4 before attacking PC Palmer.
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Kurt Cochran, 54, Aysha Frade, 44, Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Andreea Cristea, 31, and PC Palmer were all “unlawfully killed”, the coroner said.
Masood was looking for his next victim when he was shot dead by officers, the inquest had heard.
In his conclusions, Mr Lucraft said: “Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including
AT INQUEST YESTERDAY
the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates.
“Had they been stationed there they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
Patrick Maguire, a lawyer for Slater and Gordon representing Ms Palmer, said: “We feel there are many unanswered questions about how this was allowed to happen.”
PC Palmer’s parents and siblings said in a statement: “Senior officers seem to have closed ranks. What message does this send to ordinary officers?”
Met Police Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations, Neil Basu, said: “Even the possibility that we lost the chance to prevent the murder of a brave officer is unacceptable.
“For the loss of that possibility, we are deeply sorry.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Since the attack there have been a huge number of changes, like barriers on bridges.”