Police admit they don't know why Khalid Masood committed his terror attack in London

Police want to hear from anyone in contact with Westminster Bridge attacker Khalid Masood in the months prior to the attack. They don't know why he committed the killings. No evidence that Masood was radicalised in prison. No evidence that he was linked to Islamic State, although he was "clearly" interested in Jihad. "No evidence he discussed this with others."

LONDON (AP) —  A senior British counterterrorism officer says police have found "no evidence" Westminster attacker Khalid Masood was associated with the Islamic State group or al-Qaida.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu says Masood clearly had "an interest in jihad," but police have no evidence he discussed his attack with others.

Basu says in a statement that the attack in which Masood used an SUV and knives to kill four people in London "appears to be based on low sophistication, low tech, low cost techniques copied from other attacks."

He says Masood was not a "subject of interest" for counterterror police or the intelligence services before last week's attack.

Here is the full statement from the Metropolitan Police Service:

UPDATE: Westminster terror attack

Metropolitan Police - Mar 27, 2017 16:46 BST

Following additional questions to the Metropolitan Police Service we would like to provide the following update:

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Senior National Coordinator for UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said:

“I would like to start by repeating my request to the public for their help. Specifically to those who knew or talked to Khalid Masood in the months, weeks and days leading up to the attack. We are tracing these people, but I would ask you all to voluntarily come forward and help our investigation.

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

“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. Whilst I have found no evidence of an association with IS or AQ, there is clearly an interest in Jihad.

“In 2005 he changed his name to Khalid Masood.

“His last criminal offence was 2003 and he was not a current subject of interest or part of the current domestic or international threat picture for either the security service or CT Policing.

“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.”

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