The wife of the heroic police officer who was knifed to death during the Westminster terror attack claims he was wearing an ‘inadequate’ stab vest.
Michelle Palmer, whose husband Keith was one of four killed by Khalid Masood in March, has yet to see a report into his body armour 10 months on from his death.
She is also demanding to know how Masood was able to enter the grounds of parliament ‘so easily’, as an inquest is held into the attack at the Old Bailey.
Masood, 52, was shot dead by police after he drove a rental car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing PC Palmer, 48.
Michelle Palmer, whose husband Keith (left) was one of four killed by Khalid Masood (right) in March, has yet to see a report into his body armour 10 months on from his death
Gareth Patterson QC , acting on behalf of Mrs Palmer, told the court: ‘We welcome the indication that you will be investigating further what happened at the Houses of Parliament.
‘[Also] how it was this attacker was able to get thorough those gates and how PC Palmer was apparently stationed and unarmed with, it seems, inadequate body protection.’
The pre-inquest hearing earlier heard how Masood, who was born in Kent, may have taken performance enhancing drugs hours before he launched the rampage.
Evidence of rage-inducing substances were found in a urine sample taken from Masood’s dead body after he killed five people at 2.40pm on March 22.
The victims’ families called for internet giants to police terrorist material online and questioned why apps like WhatsApp and Telegram require end-to-end encryption.
They also asked that upcoming inquests into the terror attack to investigate whether Masood, 52, was radicalised online or in prison.
Gareth Patterson, QC, representing the victims, said: ‘Why it is that radicalisation material continues to be freely available on the internet we don’t understand.
‘This particular attacker used WhatsApp to send a jihadi document without any difficulty.
Evidence of rage-inducing substances were found in a urine sample taken from Masood’s dead body (pictured) after he killed PC Palmer and four pedestrians at 2.40pm on March 22
‘We just don’t understand why it is necessary for WhatsApp and Telegram and these sort of media applications to have end-to-end encryption.’
Lawyers representing the Home Office said the issue of end-to-end encryption is too broad for an inquest and is a matter of ‘legislation and social policy’.
Masood was shot dead after ramming a hired Hyundai 4×4 into at least 35 people on the bridge and leaving the vehicle to stab PC Palmer to death by the Palace of Westminster.
Spanish teacher and mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 43 from London, US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, died of their injuries after Masood crashed into them.
Judge Mark Lucraft, QC, will preside over inquests into all the deaths, which are due to start at the Old Bailey on 10 September.
‘The lives of many were torn apart by less than two minutes of high and terrible drama. Can I start by expressing my condolences to the families,’ he said.
The scene by Westminster Bridge after Khalid Masood’s murderous rampage on March 22
A submission by Jonathan Hough, QC, assisting the coroner, read: ‘A urine sample from Khalid Masood provided evidence of anabolic steroids having been taken in the hours or days prior to his death.
‘The sample analysis is attested to by a forensic toxicologist.
‘A more specialist pharmaceutical toxicologist has been instructed to prepare a report addressing how steroid use may have affected Khalid Masood.’
The whole incident was witnessed by the Met’s Acting Commissioner Craig Mackey, who was waiting to leave the House of Commons in a car with his driver and personal assistant.
Detective Superintendent John Crossley of the Counter Terrorism Command outlined the incident to Westminster Coroner’s Court as the inquest into the deaths of the victims was formally opened.
DSI Crossley told the inquest the incident lasted 82 seconds and was recorded on CCTV footage.