Westminster attacker's wife 'saddened, shocked'

The wife of the Westminster attacker, Khalid Masood, has said she is "saddened and shocked" by the atrocity, and condemns his actions, a media report said on Tuesday.

Rohey Hydara spoke out after Masood's mother, Janet Ajao, said she had "shed many tears" for her son's victims, The Guardian said in the report.

In a statement released through the Metropolitan police, Hydara said: "I am saddened and shocked by what Khalid has done. I totally condemn his actions. I express my condolences to the families of the victims that have died, and wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.

"I would like to request privacy for our family, especially the children, at this difficult time."

On Monday, the Met said Masood had had a clear interest in jihad and his methods echoed the rhetoric of Islamic State (IS) leaders.

Hydara was thought to have lived with Masood from about 2010.

Her comments follow those of Ajao, who broke her silence on Monday, saying she was "shocked, saddened and numbed by the actions my son has taken that have killed and injured innocent people in Westminster", the Guardian report said.

Masood was shot dead by a protection officer in the courtyard of the Palace of Westminster.

His attack claimed the lives of PC Keith Palmer, American tourist Kurt Cochran, London sixth-form college administrator Aysha Frade and Leslie Rhodes, a 75-year-old window cleaner.

Since the attack, Ajao, 69, has been under armed police guard in west Wales, where she runs a craft business.

--IANS

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