The wife of Westminster attacker Khalid Masood has said she is "saddened and shocked" by his actions.

Rohey Hydara condemned her husband's killing spree after his mother Janet Ajao said she had "shed many tears" for her son's victims.

In a statement released through the Metropolitan Police, Ms 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."


Image: Tributes to PC Keith Palmer at Westminster

Masood, 52, killed four people and injured dozens more in an 82-second rampage last Wednesday.

He was shot dead by armed police after fatally stabbing PC Keith Palmer in Parliament's cobbled forecourt.

IS claimed Masood as "a soldier of the Islamic State" after the attack, but Scotland Yard has said there is "no evidence" that he was linked to the extremist group, or al Qaeda.

Experts have pointed to the common IS tactic of opportunistically claiming a link to attacks.

The Met Police said that, while it had not found evidence linking Masood to the group, he "clearly" had an interest in jihad.

Two minutes of terror - how Westminster attack unfolded

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national co-ordinator for UK counter-terrorism policing, said: "His attack method appears to be based on low sophistication, low-tech, low-cost techniques copied from other attacks, and echo the rhetoric of IS leaders in terms of methodology and attacking police and civilians, but at this stage I have no evidence he discussed this with others.

"There is no evidence that Masood was radicalised in prison in 2003, as has been suggested. This is pure speculation at this time."

Mr Basu went on: "There has been much speculation about who Masood was in contact with immediately prior to the attack.

"All I will say on this point is that Masood's communications that day are a main line of inquiry.

"If you heard from him on March 22, please come forward now, the information you have may prove important to establishing his state of mind.

The moment the knifeman walked into Westminster

"I know when, where and how Masood committed his atrocities, but now I need to know why. Most importantly, so do the victims and families."

Sky News revealed last week that Masood used the the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp just before the atrocity.

The Facebook-owned company said it is "co-operating with law enforcement as they continue their investigations" - but Home Secretary Amber Rudd has refused to rule out legislation on encrypted messaging if authorities believe terrorists are being provided with "a secret place" to communicate.

On Monday the family of an American tourist who was killed in the attack said they bear no ill-will over the incident.

Kurt Cochran, 54, was killed and his 46-year-old wife Melissa was taken to hospital with a broken leg and rib and a cut head.

Image: Kurt and Melissa Cochran

The others who died after Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster bridge were Aysha Frade, who is believed to have been a 44-year-old married mother-of-two, and retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75.

Two men arrested in connection with the investigation remain in custody after warrants were granted to police to keep them in detention for further questioning.

The inquests for the victims will open and adjourn at Westminster's Coroner Court on Wednesday at 2pm, Scotland Yard said.

Masood's inquest will open and adjourn at the same court on Thursday at 2pm.

The force declined to comment on reports that Masood was driving at up to 76mph during the attack.