London: London attacker Khalid Masood’s wife on Tuesday condemned his actions, saying she was “saddened and shocked” by what her husband did at the UK Parliament and Westminster Bridge.
“I’m saddened and shocked by what Khalid has done. I totally condemn his actions,” said Masood’s wife Rohey Hydara in a statement released through the Scotland Yard.
Hydara’s comment came a day after Masood’s mother had similarly condemned the attack which claimed four lives and injured 50 others.
“I would like to request privacy for our family, especially the children, at this difficult time,” Hydara said in the statement.
Masood’s mother Janet Ajao on Monday said she had “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,” she said, in reference to her son, born Adrian Russell Ajao before he converted to Islam.
The London Metropolitan Police has said Masood had a clear interest in jihad and his methods echoed the rhetoric of the Islamic State but there was no evidence he acted as part of the terrorist group.
“His (Masood’s) attack method appears to be based on low sophistication, low-tech, low-cost techniques copied from other attacks, and echo the rhetoric of Islamic State leaders in terms of methodology and attacking police and civilians, but at this stage I have no evidence he discussed this with others,” said Neil Basu, assistant commissioner with the London Metropolitan Police.
“There is no evidence that Masood was radicalized in prison in 2003, as has been suggested; this is pure speculation at this time. While I have found no evidence of an association with IS or AQ (Al Qaeda), there is clearly an interest in Jihad,” Basu added.
The police officer added that there has been much speculation about who Masood was in contact with immediately prior to the attack and his communications that day remain a line of enquiry.
“I know when, where and how Masood committed his atrocities, but now I need to know why. Most importantly, so do the victims and families,” Basu said.
The evidence into the deaths of the victims and the attacker was presented by the Metropolitan Police at Westminster Coroner’s Court on Monday.
“At this stage the Met will not confirm provisional cause of death,” the Met Police said.
The inquest for the victims will open and adjourn Wednesday at Westminster’s Coroner Court under the direction of the coroner, Fiona Wilcox.
Masood’s inquest will open and adjourn at the same location on Thursday. PTI
