Westminster terror attacker was killed by single gunshot

LONDON: Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood was killed by a single gunshot to his chest, an inquest heard.

Masood, 52, was shot dead by an armed police officer after gaining access to the Palace of Westminster grounds during his March 22 attack in the heart of political London.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard on Thursday that Kent-born Masood, who lived in Birmingham earlier, mounted the kerb twice in a car as he sped across Westminster Bridge.

He then mounted it a third time, crashing, and then charged into the Palace of Westminster grounds armed with two knives.

In total his attack, which left four people dead, lasted just 82 seconds.

Adjourning the inquest to May, senior coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said: "I take a moment to pass my sympathies to the family of Masood, who are also all victims of this incident."

An inquest into his four victims, Pc Keith Palmer, 48, who was stabbed, and American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Aysha Frade, 44, who died on Westminster Bridge, was opened and adjourned by Dr Wilcox on Wednesday.

On March 22, an attacker, later identified as Khalid Masood, sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, mowing down pedestrians along the way, then ran through the gates of the nearby parliament building and stabbed a policeman before being shot dead.