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		</div><p>An alleged terrorist accused of trying to kill police officers and cyclists outside the UK Houses of Parliament has told jurors he “panicked” after he got “lost in London”.</p>
<p>Salih Khater, 30, allegedly drove his Ford Fiesta at a pedestrian and cyclists before careering towards two police officers and crashing into a security barrier on August 14 last year.</p>
<p>The prosecution has claimed that, while the defendant’s motive for the attack was unclear, by targeting Westminster, he had a “terrorist motive”.</p>
<p>But, giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Khater denied intending to kill anyone.</p>
<p>He told jurors he had travelled from his home in Birmingham to the capital to visit the Sudanese embassy for a visa after failing to get a fast-track passport to visit his sick mother.</p>
<p>He drove around Parliament Square three times in his Ford Fiesta before ploughing into cyclists waiting at a junction outside the Houses of Parliament, the court heard.</p>
<p>Asked to explain his driving, he said: <em>“I was just lost. I was just lost in London.”</em></p>
<p>Replaying CCTV of the alleged attack, defence lawyer Peter Carter QC said: <em>“Were you waiting for an opportunity to drive your car at cyclists?”</em></p>
<p>Khater said he was in a state of “confusion and hesitation”, trying to find his way to Tottenham Court Road or shops to get something to eat, not having had a meal since the morning before.</p>
<p>On the reason for the collision, he said: <em>“I remember something made me panic.”</em></p>
<p><em>Asked why he failed to stop after crashing into a pedestrian and cyclists, Khater said: “The car was not in my full control at the time.”</em></p>
<p>Mr Carter said: <em>“The prosecution say that you deliberately drove your car at those police officers.”</em></p>
<p>Khater replied: <em>“I would say I have tried to find somewhere to stop after the incident at the traffic light.</em></p>
<p><em>“I collided with the barrier where two police officers were standing.”</em></p>
<p>The defendant was asked why he had Googled directions to 10 Downing Street before the crash.</p>
<p>He said: <em>“I did want to find somewhere that I’m familiar with because I’m not familiar with London. I thought Croydon or Westminster or the area where I knew.”</em></p>
<p>Mr Carter said: <em>“Did you want to visit 10 Downing Street?”</em></p>
<p>Khater replied: <em>“No, I wanted to come near central London.”</em></p>
<p>The barrister asked: <em>“Did you want to do harm to 10 Downing Street or anybody there?”</em></p>
<p>The defendant replied: <em>“No, I did not.”</em></p>
<p>Earlier, the defendant described himself as an “OK driver”, having been granted asylum and British citizenship in 2010.</p>
<p>In 2018, he had worked as a security guard but failed accountancy exams at Coventry University.</p>
<p>In May last year, he emailed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn about a “number of event”, the court heard.</p>
<p>The email stated he was “confused and very worried”, claiming the event involved the “intelligence service”.</p>
<p>In response, he was advised by a Labour official to contact his local MP.</p>
<p>Asked to explain why he emailed Mr Corbyn, Khater said: <em>“I was constantly stalked. It’s like I have been followed.</em></p>
<p><em>“That’s why I came to the conclusion that I should contact someone who should help.”</em></p>
<p>By August, Khater said he “might have still had those concerns”.</p>
<p>The Sudanese-born defendant, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, denies two counts of attempted murder and two alternative charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.</p>
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