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Westminster car crash: Salih Khater guilty of attempted murder | Westminster car crash: Salih Khater guilty of attempted murder |
(32 minutes later) | |
A man who drove at cyclists and police officers outside the Houses of Parliament has been found guilty of attempted murder. | A man who drove at cyclists and police officers outside the Houses of Parliament has been found guilty of attempted murder. |
Student Salih Khater, 30, aimed his car at members of the public before swerving towards the officers in Parliament Square on 14 August 2018. | Student Salih Khater, 30, aimed his car at members of the public before swerving towards the officers in Parliament Square on 14 August 2018. |
The Old Bailey heard Khater wanted to cause maximum carnage and it was "miraculous" that no-one was killed. | The Old Bailey heard Khater wanted to cause maximum carnage and it was "miraculous" that no-one was killed. |
He had denied two counts of attempted murder. | He had denied two counts of attempted murder. |
CCTV of the attack shows Khater, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, plough his Ford Fiesta into a pedestrian and a group of cyclists who had stopped at a red light. | CCTV of the attack shows Khater, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, plough his Ford Fiesta into a pedestrian and a group of cyclists who had stopped at a red light. |
He then careers into a security lane and crashes into barriers as two police officers jump out of the way. | He then careers into a security lane and crashes into barriers as two police officers jump out of the way. |
'Fear and chaos' | 'Fear and chaos' |
Khater claimed he had gone to London to get a visa from the Sudanese embassy, but "got lost" around Westminster and panicked. | Khater claimed he had gone to London to get a visa from the Sudanese embassy, but "got lost" around Westminster and panicked. |
The jury deliberated over two days before rejecting his explanation and finding him guilty. | The jury deliberated over two days before rejecting his explanation and finding him guilty. |
Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said the attack had been "premeditated and deliberate", causing "widespread fear and chaos". | Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said the attack had been "premeditated and deliberate", causing "widespread fear and chaos". |
Khater arrived in Parliament Square in the early hours of 14 August, and drove around Westminster before resting for four-and-a-half hours in Windmill Street, Soho. | Khater arrived in Parliament Square in the early hours of 14 August, and drove around Westminster before resting for four-and-a-half hours in Windmill Street, Soho. |
He then returned to Westminster, where he made four laps of the square before launching the rush-hour attack. | He then returned to Westminster, where he made four laps of the square before launching the rush-hour attack. |
One victim, pedestrian Paul Brown, was crossing the road when Khater's car "came out of nowhere" and hit him, causing bruising and grazes. | One victim, pedestrian Paul Brown, was crossing the road when Khater's car "came out of nowhere" and hit him, causing bruising and grazes. |
Cyclists Krystof Tokarski and Anya Breen were waiting at the crossing when Khater revved his engine and knocked them down. | Cyclists Krystof Tokarski and Anya Breen were waiting at the crossing when Khater revved his engine and knocked them down. |
Mr Tokarski suffered grazes and a broken little finger while Ms Breen was thrown over the bonnet, fracturing her collar bone. | Mr Tokarski suffered grazes and a broken little finger while Ms Breen was thrown over the bonnet, fracturing her collar bone. |
Other people were trapped under their bikes, with some screaming in pain, the court heard. | Other people were trapped under their bikes, with some screaming in pain, the court heard. |
Khater then made a sharp turn into a slip road, going 32mph, forcing officers Darren Shotton and Simon Short to dive out of the way. | |
He told jurors he "got lost" and "panicked" when he crashed into cyclists and was trying to pull over when he crashed into barriers in the security lane. | |
He said: "I remember something made me panic. The car was not in my full control at the time." | |
Ms Morgan told jurors Khater's reason for the attack was unclear, but targeting officers guarding the Palace of Westminster suggested a possible "terrorist motive". | Ms Morgan told jurors Khater's reason for the attack was unclear, but targeting officers guarding the Palace of Westminster suggested a possible "terrorist motive". |
Mobile phone evidence showed he had looked up maps for 10 Downing Street and Westminster, described as potential "deliberate targets" by prosecutors. | Mobile phone evidence showed he had looked up maps for 10 Downing Street and Westminster, described as potential "deliberate targets" by prosecutors. |
Sudan-born Khater was granted asylum in Britain in 2010 after claiming he had been tortured in his home country. | Sudan-born Khater was granted asylum in Britain in 2010 after claiming he had been tortured in his home country. |
Mrs Justice McGowan remanded him into custody to be sentenced on October 7, and ordered pre-sentence reports to help her determine Khater's potential dangerousness. | Mrs Justice McGowan remanded him into custody to be sentenced on October 7, and ordered pre-sentence reports to help her determine Khater's potential dangerousness. |