Terror victim on mend

AN American widow gave a smile of defiance yesterday a week after Khalid Masood killed her husband in his Westminster terror rampage.

Melissa Cochran, 46, showed she is getting stronger every day after being mown down by the monster.

Despite being battered, bruised and standing on a shattered leg, she thanked ® people for the “outpouring of love and generosity” they have shown for her and her late husband, Kurt.

The couple were hit by Masood as he sped across Westminster Bridge at up to 76mph running down pedestrians.

The Cochrans, from West Bountiful, Utah, were on the final day of a trip to London to mark their 25th wedding anniversary. Kurt, 54, died after being thrown onto a concrete underpass. Melissa suffered a broken leg and gashed head.

A photo of her comforted by a passer-by on the pavement became a defining image of the attack which left four dead.

A week on, pictures of Melissa’s recovery in hospital have been posted on a crowdfunding page which has raised £60,000 for her and their children.

Grateful

One shows her smiling on crutches with her left leg in a cage, and another of her in bed taking a selfie.

Her brother Clint said on the family’s GoFundMe page: “She is so grateful for the outpouring of love and generosity..’’

Members of the family have refused to condemn Masood, 52, or his actions.

“There is no ill feeling,’’ said Clint. After killing two other pedestrians Masood crashed his motor into the gates of Parliament, leapt out wielding two knives and stabbed to death Pc Keith Palmer, 48.

The terrorist was himself killed by a single gunshot to the chest fired by an officer.

Yesterday, a 32-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of helping Masood prepare for the attack was released without charge. A 30-year-old man arrested in Birmingham on Sunday in connection with the attack remains in custody.