Westminster attack inquests - as they happened: Widow of officer killed by terrorist says police 'left him to die' unarmed on Parliament gates
Coroner to draw up 'prevention of future deaths' report with recommendations for police
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“Shortcomings in security” outside the Houses of Parliament contributed to the death of a police officer during the Westminster attack, a coroner has concluded.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC, the Chief Coroner of England and Wales, said the Metropolitan Police had allowed the entrance PC Keith Palmer was guarding to be neglected by “roving” armed officers.
PC Palmer's widow said he was "left to die", adding: "How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate at one of the most iconic buildings in the world and one of the country’s top terrorist targets?”
Judge Lucraft is to draw up a “prevention of future deaths report” that will contain recommendations for the Metropolitan Police and parliamentary security officials.
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Masood, 52, drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on March 22 last year, killing American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31.
Their relatives expressed hope that "lessons had been learned" from the gruelling three-week inquests.
Delivering his conclusions at the Old Bailey, Judge Lucraft said the two armed officers assigned to the area had not been near Carriage Gates for almost an hour before Khalid Masood struck because they were unaware of official guidance.
“They had been some distance away and out of view of the entrance because they had understood their duty to involve a roving patrol around the yard,” Judge Lucraft said.
“Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates.
“Had they been stationed there, it is possible that they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
PC Palmer's widow said her husband had been “left to die” by security failings and accused authorities of letting “lax security” continue at the Houses of Parliament for years.
In his closing argument, Gareth Patterson QC, for families of victims on the bridge, urged the coroner to make a report on the circumstances of the case to “protect the public”.
On the role of MI5, whose knowledge of Masood has been heavily scrutinised, he said: “We do think there is room for improvement in terms of decision-making.”
He suggested security services should look again at when to investigate suspects and when to stop, and to take account of violent backgrounds.
Mr Patterson also called for the Government to “try again” with tightening rules for hiring cars.
Dominic Adamson, representing PC Palmer's widow Michelle, said that there was “a systematic failure” in protecting unarmed officers on guard at the Palace of Westminster.
Judge Lucraft gives his sincere thanks to the emergency services who responded.
He says CCTV footage has enabled police to investigate the atrocity and meant that the "full horror of what took place has been fully recorded."
"Westminster was busy on the day and many people on the day had with them mobile phones and cameras," he says, adding that some footage was sent to police to assist with the investigation and some "for whatever reason" had been posted on the internet.
"Some of that material has been very distressing to the families and I would encourage it to be removed."
Judge Lucraft is going through the timeline of the attack, which lasted 82 seconds between the car starting its movement and Masood being shot.
Judge Lucraft says that if American tourist Kurt Cochran had not pushed his wife out of the way of Masood's vehicle she would have suffered even more serious or fatal injuries.
He was killed and thrown over the bridge wall and down to the lower embankment, falling more than 5m.
His wife Melissa was also hit and left with severe injuries.
Judge Lucraft is telling how a member of the public comforted Mr Cochran after he hit the pavement, when he was still alive but with "laboured" breathing and severe injuries, including a head wound.
A nurse found that he was not conscious before an ambulance crew arrived and the signs "were not good". Mr Cochran had sustained "catastrophic head injuries" and was declared dead at around 3pm on the day of the attack.
A post-mortem found he had suffered multiple external and internal injuries caused by "blunt force trauma" including a fractured skull.
A pathologist found that his injuries were "not surviveable" even with immediate medical care at the scene.
Judge Lucraft says he met with Mr Cochran's wife, Melissa, and her sister before they returned to the US.
He is now addressing the death of retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, who was hit while walking across Westminster Bridge and carried 33m along the road by Masood's car.
The car hit him at an estimated speed of 29-36mph.
A doctor who was also crossing the bridge at the time saw three people hit in what he thought was a "deliberate act", although he initially thought the car may be evading a police chase.
He found Mr Rhodes to be "unresponsive" and another person had called an ambulance. He found a "life-threatening injury" to his head, which was particularly severe given Mr Rhodes' age.
He also noted injuries to his eye and blood coming from his nose and mouth. He carried out a "jaw thrust" movement and Mr Rhodes started breathing again. A paramedic arrived and gave Mr Rhodes oxygen and other treatment. They became "optimistic about his chances of survival".
But on the eight minute journey into hospital, Mr Rhodes' oxygen saturation dropped and a CT scan revealed severe injuries to his head and chest.
The head injury had caused "irreversible changes to his brain" and he died later in hospital.
Judge Lucraft praises Dr Lloyd for doing his "medical best and also his best to comfort Leslie from the time he sustained catastrophic injuries".