Westminster killer Khalid Masood's wife: My shock at attack

Attacker: Khalid Masood is treated at the scene
PA
Tom Powell3 April 2017

The wife of Westminster killer Khalid Masood has said she is “saddened and shocked” by his murderous rampage which left four dead.

Rohey Hydara, who is understood to have lived with Masood, said: “I totally condemn his actions.

"I express my condolences to the families of the victims that have died and wish a speedy recovery to all the injured."

"I would like to request privacy for our family, especially the children, at this difficult time."

Ms Hydara, who is from Gambia but lives in a rented flat in east London, had told friends that she thought Ajao was travelling to Saudi Arabia, according to the Telegraph.

It comes soon after his mother also branded his actions as an “atrocity”.

Khalid Masood, in the back row, in his days as a schoolboy when he used the name Adrian Ajao

Janet Ajao, 69, gave a statement through police in which she spoke of her distress at discovering her son had been the maniac who ploughed through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death.

Killer: Khalid Masood
Daily Mail

“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.

“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.”

On Monday police investigating Wednesday's attack said they do not believe Masood - previously known as Adrian Ajao - was directed by Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

Attack at Parliament, March 22, 2017

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They said it is not thought Masood discussed the planned attack with anyone before he carried it out.

Masood was shot dead by a police officer moments after fatally stabbing PC Keith Palmer, 48, outside Parliament, after injuring at least 50 other people.

The three others he killed were Streatham resident Leslie Rhodes, 75, US tourist Kurt Cochrane, 54, and Spanish mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 43.

Reports have claimed Masood's phone connected with encrypted messaging service WhatsApp just before the atrocity, sparking debate over authorities' capacity to intercept suspects' communications.

WhatsApp has said it is "co-operating with law enforcement as they continue their investigations".

The inquests for the victims will open and adjourn at Westminster's Coroner Court on Wednesday at 2pm, Scotland Yard said.

Masood's inquest will open and adjourn at the same court on Thursday at 2pm.

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