Pc ‘left to die’ at hands of terrorist

The widow of Pc Keith Palmer has criticised “lax security” at the Palace of Westminster as a coroner found his death may have been prevented.

Michelle Palmer said her husband was left “alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate” when he was stabbed by a terrorist.

THE WIDOW of Pc Keith Palmer has criticised “lax security” at the Palace of Westminster as a coroner found his death may have been prevented.

Michelle Palmer said her husband was left “alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate” when he was stabbed by a marauding terrorist armed with two foot-long knives.

The inquest had heard how the two armed officers tasked with patrolling New Palace Yard had been nowhere near Carriage Gates for nearly an hour before the attack.

Khalid Masood, 52, had targeted the unarmed police officers guarding Parliament after mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a hired car, killing four.

Following a four-week inquest at the Old Bailey, Chief Coroner Mark Lucraft QC found all five victims had been “unlawfully killed” by Masood.

In his conclusions, he said: “Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain close to the gates.

“Had they been stationed there it is possible that they may have been able to prevent Pc Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”

Masood was eventually shot dead by a plain clothes close protection officer.

Mrs Palmer issued a statement saying: “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 country’s top terrorist targets?

“He was left at a vulnerable location, with no protection, to die.

“The fact there were no firearms officers there for nearly an hour is hard to believe.”

The parents and sisters of Pc Palmer, who would have turned 50 on Wednesday, said the inquest had been “traumatic” and “extremely difficult”.

They said the Coroner should have gone further in his findings, accusing senior Met officers of closing ranks.

John and Sylvia Curtis, Angela Clark, Michelle Palmer, and John Curtis said in a statement: “The inquest has been traumatic and extremely difficult for our family.

“We welcome the fact that the Chief Coroner has recognised some of the Met’s failings, and their consequences, but believe he should have gone further.”

The Coroner outlined Masood’s background in the run-up to the attack, including his convictions for violence and links to extremists after he converted to Islam.

The court had heard he first appeared on MI5’s radar in 2004 when he was connected with a suspect in the fertiliser bomb plot.

In the days before the attack, Masood bought knives, hired a Hyundai Tuscon and carried out reconnaissance in Westminster.

He visited his mother and told her: “They are going to say I’m a terrorist but I’m not.”

On the afternoon of March 22 last year, he drove across Westminster Bridge and knocked over and killed American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian designer Andreea Cristie, 31.

Twenty-nine other pedestrians were seriously injured as Masood mounted the pavement before crashing into railings at the Palace of Westminster.

Pc Palmer challenged him and was killed.

Mr Lucraft said: “It was an extremely brave thing for him to do.”

He was left at a vulnerable location, with no protection, to die. Michelle Palmer, in a statement following the inquest at the Old Bailey.