There is no further evidence to suggest London attacker Khalid Masood had links to terror groups.
Although Islamic State were quick to claim responsibility for the March 22 atrocity on Westminster, Metropolitan Police have found little evidence to suggest Masood’s unsophisticated attack was orchestrated by Daesh.
Masood killed four people in an 82-second rampage in Westminster on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old was shot dead by armed police after fatally knifing Pc Keith Palmer in the Palace of Westminster’s cobbled forecourt.
Islamic State called Masood ‘a soldier of the Islamic State’ following the attack.
But the announcement was greeted with scepticism from commentators, with many noting IS has a record of opportunistically claiming attacks.
Scotland Yard said, while it had not found evidence linking Masood to the group, he ‘clearly’ had an interest in jihad.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator 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 (Islamic State) 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 (al Qaida), there is clearly an interest in jihad.’
Mr Basu said Masood’s communications on March 22 were a “main line of inquiry” and appealed for people who were in contact with him to come forward.
He said: ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
Reports have claimed Masood’s phone connected with encrypted messaging app WhatsApp just before the atrocity, sparking debate over authorities’ capacity to intercept suspects’ communications.
WhatsApp has said it is “co-operating with law enforcement as they continue their investigations”.
Earlier, the family of an American tourist who was killed in the attack said they bear no ill-will over the incident.
Kurt and Melissa Cochran, from Utah, were on the final day of a trip to London to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when they were mown down on Westminster Bridge by a car driven by Masood.
Mr Cochran, 54, was killed and his 46-year-old wife was taken to hospital with a broken leg, rib and cut head.
The others who died after the attacker drove his car into pedestrians on the bridge were Aysha Frade, who is believed to have been a 43-year-old married mother-of-two, and retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes.
Two men arrested in connection with the investigation remain in custody.
The inquest 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 location on Thursday at 2pm.
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