Inquest hears details of Westminster attack victims' injuries

An inquest has heard details of the injuries suffered by the victims of the Westminster attack one week after the atrocity.

Khalid Masood killed three people when he drove his 4x4 Hyundai Tucson across Westminster Bridge before stabbing to death his fourth victim, PC Keith Palmer.

Opening and adjourning the inquest in front of several victims’ relatives, Westminster coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox was told Masood was armed with two knives when he got out of the vehicle.

Palmer’s cause of death was given as haemorrhage and stab wound to the chest, the inquest heard.

Kurt Cochran and Aysha Frade died at the scene on the bridge after being struck by the car. Cochran died of multiple injuries and Frade died of head and chest injuries, the inquest heard.

Leslie Rhodes, 75, was taken to King’s College hospital but died three days later of a head injury.

A pre-inquest review was provisionally fixed for 19 May.

Providing evidence to the inquest, DS John Crossley, who is leading the police investigation, said Masood mounted the pavement twice in a deliberate attempt to target pedestrians before mounting the pavement for a third time and crashing the car into the east perimeter of the Palace of Westminster.

He said: “The man then left the car armed with two large knives and ran into the vehicle entrance gateway known as Carriage Gates, at the north perimeter fence of the Palace of Westminster.

“The man attacked a police officer in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster with the knives, causing grave wounds and killing the officer – PC Keith Palmer.”

Crossley said more than 35 people were injured, with wounds ranging from cuts and bruises to extensive bone and skull fractures. One person remains in a coma with extensive injuries, he said.

An inquest into Masood’s death will open and adjourn on Thursday. Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, announced two reviews into security in parliament – an independent review into how the perimeter fence of the parliamentary estate is secured as well as a second externally led review on how parliament responds to major incidents.

Two people remain in custody after being arrested in relation to the incident. On Wednesday afternoon, police officers gathered on Westminster Bridge to mark a week since the attack.

The Metropolitan Police Federation said the intention was to link hands across the bridge from the south to the north at the moment the attack began. Organisers said the event will show “we will not be divided. Linking all nations, faiths, orientation and sexes.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association is involved, and about 500 participants were expected on the bridge, wearing T-shirts printed with the message: “I am a Muslim, ask me anything.” Masood was a convert to Islam.