Khalid Masood's wife 'saddened and shocked' by attack

Rasa - The wife of the British-born man who killed four people and injured more than 50 others in an attack outside the British Parliament in London last week has said she is “saddened and shocked” by the atrocity, and condemns his actions.

News ID: 428494

Date: 28 March 2017 - 22:27

RNA - Rohey Hydara made the statement after Khalid Masood’s mother, Janet Ajao, spoke out about Wednesday’s assault, which was claimed by the Daesh terrorist group. Ajao said she had “shed many tears” for the victims, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.

“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,” Hydara said in a statement released through the Metropolitan police.

“I would like to request privacy for our family, especially the children, at this difficult time,” she said.

On Monday, The Guardian reported that Masood was known as a potential extremist to UK intelligence agencies way back in 2010.

He first came to the attention of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, six years ago after returning to the country from Saudi Arabia where he had been teaching English, the report said.

The Metropolitan police said on Monday that Masood had a clear interest in (Takfiri) terrorism and his methods echoed the rhetoric of Daesh.

However, a police official said there was no evidence suggesting that he had discussed the plot with others before carrying out the attack.

The Saudi Embassy in the United Kingdom on Friday confirmed Masood had visited Saudi Arabia three times, including two stints teaching English there. Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabism is widely preached and practiced, stands accused of sponsoring terrorist groups such as Daesh.

The 52-year-old taught English in Saudi Arabia from November 2005 to November 2006 and again from April 2008 to April 2009 before returning to Luton, Bedfordshire, to teach English.

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