Pc knifed in the carnage was wearing stab vest, inquest told

A POLICE officer who was killed during the Westminster terror attack died after being stabbed in the chest, despite wearing body armour.

PC Keith Palmer, 48, was fatally knifed by Muslim convert Khalid Masood while on duty in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster last Wednesday.

The father of two was wearing a stab vest, issued as routine to Metropolitan Police officers, but it was not enough to save him and he died at the scene.

Scotland Yard has confirmed he was wearing the armour when he was attacked.

Masood, 52, from Birmingham, was shot dead by armed police.

An inquest into his four victims, Pc Palmer, American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window-cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Aysha Frade, 44, was opened by senior coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox at Westminster Coroner’s Court.

Family members of those killed listened as Detective Superintendent John Crossley told the court a “wide-ranging inquiry” into the incident was being led by the counterterrorism command.

Officers are examining a “large amount” of CCTV and footage taken by bystanders, which gives a “clear visual chronology” of how the 82-second incident unfolded.

He said: “Currently there are in excess of 1,500 potential witnesses, with accounts being taken from those who are deemed significant.”

The inquest heard details of how the four had died.

Mr Cochran, whose wife, Melissa, was taken to hospital after suffering a broken leg, rib and cut head, died at the scene from multiple injuries after being hit by the car, while Mrs Frade suffered head and chest injuries, also dying on the bridge.

Mr Rhodes, from Clapham, was pronounced dead at London’s King’s College Hospital the following day from a head injury, while Pc Palmer died at the scene.

Dr Wilcox adjourned the inquest for police to carry out their investigations. A preinquest review has been provisionally scheduled for May 19 at London’s Royal Courts of Justice.