Armed bodyguard tells how he gunned down Westminster attacker as he charged him brandishing two knives 'covered in blood'

Specialist firearms officers battling to save terrorist Khalid Masood after he stabbed Pc Keith Palmer to death
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
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An armed bodyguard broke down in court today as he described the moment he shot dead Westminster terror attacker Khalid Masood, telling the inquest: "He was going to kill me."

The trained firearms officer struggled to contain his emotions as he described hearing screaming and seeing Masood, armed with two bloody kitchen knives, rushing towards him.

Referred to as SA74 to protect his identity, the officer said he and a fellow bodyguard heard a crash at the perimeter wall of Parliament, they heard members of the public shouting, and saw unarmed police officers running in terror.

"I simply didn't know what was happening, but I was now certain that something terrible was happening", he said.

Police arrest Khalid Masood outside the Palace of Westminster. The inquest into the five deaths on March 22, 2017, concluded today. (PA Archive/PA Images)
Stefan Rousseau/PA

"I saw a large black male running purposefully towards me, he was carrying two large knives, I would say, and I could clearly see that they were covered in blood."

Masood, 52, stabbed unarmed PC Keith Palmer to death after bursting through the Parliamentary gates, and had already run over pedestrians at random on Westminster Bridge.

The scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, where Pc Keith Palmer was fatally stabbed by Khalid Masood after he ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
PA

SA74 said he shouted a warning to Masood to drop his weapons, but it "had no effect" on the extremist.

"He was going to kill me", he told the inquest.

Khalid Masood
Met Police

"As soon as I saw that threat, my pistol was drawn and I was pointing it at him.

"After shouting at him to drop the knives, and receiving no change in his demeanour, I fired my pistol."

Stabbed to death: PC Keith Palmer was helping to guard Parliament when he was attacked by extremist Khalid Masood
pckeithpalmer1409

The officer, who was giving evidence in semi-secrecy to protect his identity, was offered a break in his evidence as he struggled with his emotions, but opted to continue with his account to the jury.

The officer's colleague, referred to as SB73, earlier told the hearing: "I thought he was going to try and seriously injure or kill one or both of us.

"I was ready to take action by shooting him.

"I believe I took an aim, ready to take a shot. My finger was near the trigger.

"My colleague fired a number of shots which stopped the male."

Masood had already run over and fatally wounded mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 43, US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, on Westminster Bridge on March 22 last year.

The extremist then crashed his rented Hyundai into the perimeter wall of Parliament, before rushing on foot through the Carriage Gates entrance and attacking PC Palmer.

Both bodyguards were on duty on March 22 last year protecting their "principal", and happened to be in the area of Carriage Gates when the attack happened.

SB73 added that unarmed police officers were running away from the gates as he also shouted a warning to Masood, telling him to stop and drop his weapons.

Both bodyguards went to secure Masood once he had been shot and collapsed to the ground, while also making efforts to save his life.

Craig Mackey 
Getty Images

Acting Met Commissioner Sir Craig Mackey was in a chauffeur driven car as the attack unfolded in front of him, and told the inquest on Monday that he locked the doors to protect himself and two colleagues.

He told the hearing he was unarmed and not wearing protective clothing, but he has since come under fire from former colleagues who have accused the senior officer of being a coward.

The inquest in front of chief coroner Mark Lucraft QC is due to conclude next week when a jury will deliver its verdict.

The inquest continues.

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