Police operation across Britain
of computer data”. Mr Rowley said officers had spoken to about 3,500 witnesses, including 1,000 who were on Westminster Bridge and 2,500 who were in Parliament.
Asked whether Masood had travelled overseas, the officer said: “We are looking at his history”. But he reiterated Theresa May’s comments in Parliament that though Masood had been investigated previously he has been a “peripheral figure” not implicated in any current probe.
He reacted angrily when asked about Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey’s actions at Parliament, after it was revealed that the acting head of Scotland Yard was rushed away in the aftermath of the attack. He said: “It’s frustrating that we get nonsense like this from armchair critics.”
Today MP Tobias Ellwood, hailed a hero after trying to save the life of Pc Palmer, was seen talking to police officers at Westminster.
The Islamic State terror group has claimed the attacker was one of their “soldiers” but commentators say the group has a record of opportunistically claiming attacks.
As detectives appealed for more information about Masood, a more detailed picture of the middle-aged killer with various aliases began to emerge. He was born to a single mother in Kent on Christmas Day and grew up in the seaside town of Rye in Sussex, later converting to Islam.
At one time he qualified as an English teacher and is said to have spent time teaching in Saudi Arabia around 2005, it was reported.
The father of three had a history of criminal convictions and violence and has served two jail sentences.
His mother Janet Ajao, 69, sells bags from a farmhouse in west Wales. She was too upset to comment today.