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Westminster killer seen joking with hotel staff day before deadly attack

Khalid Masood was an "angry person" who would "go out looking for a fight", according to his mother's statement at an inquest.

Khalid Masood was seen on CCTV joking with staff at the Day&#39;s Inn hotel at Cobham Services in Surrey
Smiling Masood day before Westminster attack
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Westminster attacker Khalid Masood joked with hotel staff the day before he killed five people, after he told his mother: "They'll say I'm a terrorist. I'm not."

The details from the final days of the attacker, who was shot dead after knifing PC Keith Palmer to death, were heard at the Old Bailey during the eighth day of inquests into the 22 March 2017 atrocity.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown told the court that Masood's final visit to his mother, Janet Ajao, in Wales, was likely a "goodbye visit".

The police officer added: "As he was leaving the house on 17 March he turned over his shoulder and said, 'they will say I'm a terrorist. I'm not'."

The court heard evidence detailing the life of Masood leading up to the attack - from his violent youth and periods in prison to his final journey to Westminster.

Masood was an "angry person" who would "go out looking for a fight", according to his mother, who said she was "worried he would kill someone through fighting".

Khalid Masood on Westminster Bridge
Killer did recce on Westminster Bridge

In the days before the attack he also told his children he would "die fighting for God" and searched for a Calor gas centre - leading DCI Brown to tell the Old Bailey is was "possible" he planned to use gas as a weapon.

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Born Adrian Russell Elms in Lewisham, the would-be attacker changed his name in 2005 and had a long history of arrest on numerous charges, including criminal damage, assault, and possession of offensive weapons.

His mother said she was "worried he would kill someone through fighting," according to a statement read by DCI Brown, a counter-terror officer.

The violent incidents proceeded to escalate, the court heard, becoming more serious.

Khalid Masood has been named by police as the Westminster attacker
Image: Paramedics tried to save Masood after he was shot by police

In 2003 he stabbed Daniel Smith in the face with a carving knife with such force the handle broke, plunging the blade through the palate of his mouth, tongue and jaw.

He claimed self-defence and was acquitted of attempted murder, and was released from West Lewes prison in 2003.

After jail he described his religion as Muslim, and married. But his relationship was described as a disaster from the honeymoon, and by 2006 he had moved with his second wife, who was a Muslim, to Saudi Arabia.

In the days before the attack Masood was seen on CCTV at a Tesco branch in Birmingham where he bought the two knives that he used to stab PC Palmer.

Inquest hears from MP who assisted CPR

He was also seen at a car hire company where he rented the Hyundai Tuscon SUV he used in the deadly assault.

For the three days before the attack Masood stayed at the Days Inn hotel at Cobham Services in Surrey.

He was seen on CCTV checking-in then paying his bill as he smiled and joked with staff at reception.

And the court was also shown CCTV of him using the hire car to recce the area where he would plough down pedestrians then storm the courtyard of the Palace of Westminster.

He drove over the bridge several times, a couple of days before the attack and then again on the day before he went ahead and drove into people.