You’ll hear I’m dead soon but be happy... I will be in paradise

Westminster killer’s chilling farewell phone call to his family

THE terrorist who killed five people in the Westminster atrocity told a family member in a phone call a week before the attack: ‘You will soon hear of my death, but don’t worry… I will be in paradise.’

Khalid Masood’s words appeared to voice the belief held by most interpretations of Islam that only martyrs are guaranteed to enter paradise after death.

This is the first evidence that he saw himself as a jihadi – until now police have said it was possible the motive behind the attack on March 22 in which PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death might never be known.

Masood, a convert to Islam with a violent past, killed four pedestrians and injured 50 others when he drove a hired car along Westminster Bridge at 78mph. He was shot dead by police in the grounds of Parliament.

The Mail on Sunday has learned from a well- placed source that a week before the attack, Masood, 52, who was living in Birmingham, made the farewell phone call to a family member in the South East.

Masood said: ‘You will soon hear of my death, but don’t worry, be happy, because I will be in a better place, I will be in paradise.’

He added: ‘I want you to be happy for me, I don’t want you to be sad.’

He was careful to prevent the conWARPED VIEW: Killer Masood’s call is evidence that he planned martyrdom versation from being repeated, telling the family member: ‘I want it to be our secret.’

After the Westminster attack, detectives became aware of the telephone conversation Masood had with the family member, who police have decided had no prior knowledge of the attack and has not been radicalised.

A number of Masood’s family members were arrested after the attack, but all have been released without charge.

So far, no letter, note or martyrdom video from Masood has emerged in which he explained his actions.