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Khalid Masood told mother he wasn't terrorist before Westminster attack which killed five

A man accused of committing terror atrocities in Westminster was an "angry man" who would "go out looking for a fight", an inquest's heard.

Khalid Masood, who was born in Dartford and lived in several areas of Kent, had a violent youth and had periods in prison, the hearing was told.

But in the days before he killed five people on Westminster Bridge on March 22 last year Masood told his mother: "They'll say I'm a terrorist. I'm not."

Khalid Masood, born Adrian Elms. Picture: The Met
Khalid Masood, born Adrian Elms. Picture: The Met

On the eighth day of the inquest at the Old Bailey Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown told the court that Masood's final visit to his mother, Janet Ajao, in Wales was a likely a "goodbye visit".

He added: "As he was leaving the house on March 17 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 Massod leading up to the attack - from his violent youth and periods in prison to his final journey, via his mother's home, to Westminster.

His mother said she was "worried he would kill someone through fighting".

But, just days before the attack he 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.

Born Adrian Russell Elms, 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 escalated, the court heard, becoming more serious.

In 2003 he stabbed Daniel Smith in the face with a carving knife with such forced 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 to Saudi Arabia.

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