Westminster killer Khalid Masood's mother: 'I have shed many tears for victims'

The mother of Westminster killer Khalid Masood says she has cried for the victims of the "horrendous" attack.

Janet Ajao released a statement in which she said: "I am so deeply shocked, saddened and numbed by the actions my son has taken that have killed and injured innocent people in Westminster."

She said she does not condone the terrorist's actions and does not support the beliefs that led to him committing the atrocity.

Masood killed four people, including a police officer, during his 82-second rampage in central London last Wednesday. Fifty other people were injured.

Police have said there was "no evidence" he had links with Islamic State or al Qaeda but was "clearly" interested in jihad.

Three people died as the terrorist drove his hire car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before he ran through the gates of Parliament and stabbed unarmed policeman Keith Palmer to death.

Masood, 52, was then shot dead by another officer.

Police said the terrorist's offensive was "based on low sophistication, low tech, low cost techniques copied from other attacks".

And it echoed "the rhetoric of IS leaders in terms of methodology and attacking police and civilians".

But was still not clear why he launched his outrage.

Police have also found no evidence that he was radicalised while in prison in 2003, as they called suggestions "pure speculation".

Masood, a Muslim convert, was "joking" with hotel staff in Brighton in the run-up to his attack in the capital - and used phone messaging service WhatsApp minutes before striking.

Ms Ajao said: "Since discovering that it was my son that was responsible I have shed many tears for the people caught up in this horrendous incident.

"I wish to make it absolutely clear, so there can be no doubt, I do not condone his actions nor support the beliefs he held that led to him committing this atrocity."

The attacker was born Adrian Russell Elms and had many identities over the years, including Adrian Russell Ajao. He changed his name to Khalid Masood in 2005.