Cop fund to hit £1m
Widow praises the ‘loving’ public as fund to help family soars
A FUND set up to help the family of a policeman murdered in last week’s Westminster terror attack is set to top £1million.
Pc Keith Palmer’s widow Michelle has been “overwhelmed” by the “outpouring of love and respect” for her husband.
The officer was knifed to death as he tried to stop terrorist Khalid Masood’s attack on Parliament.
The Islamic fanatic also drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, leaving three dead and many injured. The Metropolitan Police Federation set out to raise £250,000 for Michelle, 34, and the couple’s five-year-old daughter Amy.
But that total was reached ® within hours and yesterday the JustGiving fund was heading towards £800,000 after more than 35,000 people pledged cash.
Michelle said: “We have been overwhelmed by the love and support for our family.”
Donations continued to pour in despite a row over JustGiving’s refusal to waive its 5% administration fee.
That means if the total reaches £1m, £50,000 will go to the company.
Fund supporter Michael Ellis wrote: “All the money should go to this national hero’s family.”
But others backed the website. Terence Shulrane wrote: “The reason this vast amount of money has been raised is because of sites like this.”
Meanwhile, well-wisher Sophie Papas wrote: “Please keep donating. Let’s make it a million.”
Kaori Belford said: “Ever since the tragic incident I can’t help thinking about his wife and children.
“I want his family to know people do care about them and their future.”
Siraj Uddin said: “Keith Palmer, you are a hero, may your soul RIP.
“The whole Muslim world condemns this attack made by a lunatic.”
Yesterday a group of women in headscarves linked hands on Westminster Bridge in an act of solidarity organised by Women’s March London to pay tribute to the victims of the atrocity.
Pc Palmer, 48, had previously saved a WPc’s life after she was badly hurt in a patrol car crash and two years ago was named “best thief taker” after making 150 arrests in a year.
MPs have called for him to be awarded a George Medal and want a shield in his honour installed in the House Of Commons.
Police last night said they had held a 30-year-old man in Birmingham in connection with the attack. Another man, thought to be a 58-year-old Saudi Arabian who lived near Masood in Birmingham, is also still in custody.
Police yesterday removed two computers and documents from a house in Birmingham which Masood visited regularly when he took the family’s young children to a mosque. Meanwhile, Sabrina Hussain, 32, whose eight-year-old daughter was pals with Masood’s youngest child, said the dad gave her “the creeps”.
She refused to let her youngster go to Masood’s home because “there was always something not quite right about him”.
Sabrina said: “He was really strange. He would never look me in the eye and spoke only to Muslim men.”