Who were the victims of the Westminster terror attack? PC Keith Palmer and Andreea Cristea among those killed by Khalid Masood
A KNIFEMAN who brought terror to the heart of Westminster killed five people before he was shot dead.
A police officer was stabbed to death inside the Parliamentary estate and four members of the public were killed during the London attack on Wednesday, March 22, 2017.
Who were the victims of the Westminster terror attack?
Among those injured were people from Ireland, America, South Korea, Romania, France, Poland and Germany.
The attacker was identified as British-born Khalid Masood, who had once been investigated by MI5 over extremism fears and had been convicted of multiple violent offences spanning 20 years.
Officials said the knife-wielding nut acted alone and was inspired by “Islamic terrorism” when he mowed down crowds on Westminster Bridge before stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death.
PM Theresa May said the attack was "sick and depraved" and struck at values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech.
The five victims who lost their lives were PC Palmer, mum-of-two Aysha Frade, US tourist Kurt Cochran, Romanian visitor Andreea Cristea, and pensioner Leslie Rhodes from South London.
PC Keith Palmer
PC Keith Palmer was killed during the terror attack after he was stabbed to death just inside the railings at Parliament.
The 48-year-old, who was a Charlton Atheltic fan, was a husband and a father.
PC Palmer was a member of the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command.
He had been on the force for 15 years and joined after leaving the Army, having served as a member of the Royal Artillery.
Mark Rowley, the national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing and the Acting Deputy Commissioner, said: “He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift – and he had every right to expect that would happen.”
PC Palmer was unarmed when the attacker - who was wielding two large knives - came charging towards him after mowing down pedestrians in his car on Westminster Bridge.
The British-born attacker, Khalid Masood, was shot dead by armed police.
Paramedics fought to save PC Palmer's life, and that of his attacker, on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.
People paid tribute to the hero cop, including friend and Tory MP James Cleverly.
He said on Twitter: "I've known Keith for 25 years. We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper.
"A lovely man, a friend. I'm heartbroken."
Charlton Athletic also paid tribute to Keith, who was a season ticket holder at the club, by draping a scarf over his seat.
A for the family of PC Palmer raised more than £500,000 within 24 hours of the attack.
On September 25, 2018 an anonymous officer slammed Chief Superintendent Nick Aldworth for the lack of trained gun cops on the day of the Westminster Bridge terror attack.
Firerms experts used to be permanently based at Carriage Gate where Khalid Masood killed PC Palmer in cold blood, but three years before, they were told to leave their post and carry out roving patrols.
The whistle-blowers claim Mr Aldworth rung the changes between March 2014 and May 2015 when he headed up Palace of Westminster operations - something he denies.
An anonymous Facebook post from an alleged officer said: "Keith’s blood is solely on his hands and he got promoted for it.’"
Messages on social media from four people claiming to be officers were sent anonymously the lawyers representing tragic Keith's widow.
They were read out at the Old Bailey on September 25 at the inquest into the five victims.
They said: "Those of us that worked at the Palace of Westminster will never forget and have been forever changed. I for one will never be able to forgive. The entire senior leadership team should hang their heads in shame."
It also accused senior management of "bullying", adding: "Personally, I left to save my sanity. They care little for the damage they have inflicted on individuals.
"I make no apology for the bitterness of my words. I look forward to the day I won’t wake up angry."
Another colleague of PC Palmer described it as a "colossal c*** up".
A third wrote: "‘Did they listen? Take off the fixed posts, let them do a roaming patrol.
"That’s not going to end well. The marksmen won’t be where you want them when it all goes wrong."
Earlier in the inquest, a review of security found the gates to be "one of the most vulnerable areas".
Dominic Adamson, for PC Palmer's widow, said "for at least 46 minutes there is no evidence of authorised firearms officers at the gates or in close proximity".
Chief Superintendent Nick Aldworth was promoted to National Counter-Terrorism Police HQ and made national coordinator of the Government’s strategy against terrorist attacks.
Giving evidence, he denied moving gun cops, saying: "Throughout my tenure I did nothing but to try ensure post notes [instructions] were adhered to and to anchor armed officers to Carriage Gates."
Aysha Frade
Mum-of-two Aysha Frade was among those who died in the terror attack in London.
She was on her way to pick up her children from school when she was killed in the horrific attack.
The 43-year-old Spanish citizen worked as a college worker in London and had family in the Spanish town of Betanzos.
The mayor of Betanzos, Ramón García Vázquez, confirmed Aysha’s death.
He told the following the attack: “The rumours that started going round last night are sadly true. I didn’t know her but she has two sisters who run an English school here and other relatives in the area. It’s a tragedy.”
Tributes to Aysha, who worked at DLD College, were shared on social media.
Rachel Borland, principal of DLD College, said Aysha "was highly regarded and loved by students and colleagues" adding "she will be deeply missed by all of us".
Kurt Cochran
American tourist Kurt Cochran, from Utah, died in the attack and his wife Melissa was seriously hurt.
The couple were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and also visiting Melissa's parents, who work on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission.
They were struck when the attacker drove a car over Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament.
The pair, who were travelling around Europe, were due to return to the US the day after the attack.
Devastated family paid tribute to Kurt, remembering him as a “husband, son and friend”, saying it was a “heart-wrenching” loss.
His wife Melissa suffered a broken leg, rib and a cut on her head.
In a public post on Facebook, Shantell Payne wrote: "With a heavy heart I must pass the sad news of our beautiful brother, father, husband, son and friend Kurt Cochran, he could not overcome the injuries he received in the London terror attacks.
“This pain is so heart wrenching and raw it has rocked our family and all that knew him to its core."
Leslie Rhodes
Leslie Rhodes suffered serious injuries in the atrocity and died in hospital a day later.
The 75-year-old had his life-support switched off, having been treated at King’s College Hospital prior to his death.
Leslie, from South London, was Winston Churchill’s window cleaner and loved being in the grounds of the ex-PM’s home in Chartwell.
Friends and neighbours paid tribute to cleaner, remembering him as a “lovely man” who would still clean windows of clients he had bonded with as a favour.
His friend, Michael Carney who had known Leslie for about 40 years, said they played Queen for him as he lay critically ill in hospital.
He said: “My wife and my two girls went up there and were with him until he died, playing him music. He liked Queen and that.
“He had no-one. You can’t have someone dying on their own... What harm did he ever do to anyone? He was the nicest man you ever met.”
Neighbours and friends described cricket-loving Leslie as a "lovely man" and said he had been "as fit as a fiddle".
Philip Williams, 61, said: "We'd known him for 24 years. He was a lovely man. He would do anything for anybody. And it's such a shock."
Andreea Cristea
Andrea Cristea, 31, fell into the Thames as Khalid Masood sped down the southern footpath of Westminster Bridge.
Romanian national Andreea was visiting London with partner Andrei Burnaz, who planned to propose later that day.
She was rescued from the river with critical injuries after plummeting into the water, but she died two weeks later in hospital.
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The Romanian architect's family said in a statement following her death: "After fighting for her life for over two weeks, our beloved and irreplaceable Andreea — wonderful daughter, sister, partner, dedicated friend and the most unique and life loving person you can imagine - was cruelly and brutally ripped away from our lives in the most heartless and spiritless way.
"She will always be remembered as our shining ray of light that will forever keep on shining in our hearts.
"There are no words to even begin to describe the crushing pain and emptiness that is left in our hearts."
Wellwishers raised almost £3,400 for Andreea “to get her family in the UK” and “help pay for any future medical treatment”.
After her death her family said the money was set to go to charity.