Yahoo News Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood's final message revealed
The final message left by Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood on messaging service WhatsApp has been uncovered by security services.
The message, sent minutes before he began his attack, Masood reportedly declared he was waging jihad in revenge against Western military action in Muslim countries in the Middle East.
The recipient of the message was extensively questioned by police but released without charge after the security services concluded that he was not complicit in the plot and had no prior knowledge of the attack, the Independent reported.
Westminster has been on a state of heightened alert since Masood launched his attack on March 22, killing five people, including Pc Keith Palmer.
Masood drove at pedestrians before stabbing Pc Palmer as he guarded the cobbled forecourt of the Palace of Westminster. He was then shot dead by police.
The WhatsApp message is the first indication of what triggered his attack.
In March Home Secretary Amber Rudd refused to rule out the possibility of legislating against tech companies who block access to their services, following reports that Masood's final Whatsapp message had been encrypted.
Details of how Masood's message was accessed have not been revealed for security reasons, other than being described as the result of “human and technical intelligence”.
However, sources told the Independent they believe they may now be able to repeat the process in future.
The insight into the terrorist's mindset follow the arrest of a suspected jihadist on Thursday, just 100 yards from where Masood was shot by police, who was found armed with knives heading towards Downing Street when he was dramatically stopped by armed police.
The ‘lone wolf’ suspect had been under close surveillance when counter-terrorism officers ordered his immediate detention as he came within 300 yards of the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence.
It is understood that the suspect’s family had become concerned about his behaviour and reported him to the authorities several weeks ago. Investigators believe he was about to launch an attack.
The 27-year-old man, dressed head to toe in black, was wrestled to the ground by armed police officers as he walked among a crowd of tourists and workers in Parliament Street at just after 2.20pm on Thursday.
