Posted April 11, 2017 15:18:27

Several thousand police officers from across Britain have lined the streets of London for the funeral procession of their fellow officer who was killed in an extremist attack last month.

Constable Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood on March 22 outside Britain's Houses of Parliament. Before the stabbing, Masood had crashed into pedestrian walking on nearby Westminster Bridge.

Photo: An officer holds the order of service at the funeral of PC Keith Palmer. (Reuters: Frank Augstein.)

Two minutes of silence were observed by police throughout the country and by many others to pay respects to the 48-year-old husband and father killed in the line of duty.

London's new police chief, Cressida Dick, said after the funeral that PC Palmer had represented the "friendly face of British policing" and would be missed.

"I think all of us in policing hope that today's tribute to him gives some sort of comfort to his family," she said.

Police Chief Inspector Neil Sawyer said in his eulogy the entire force was proud of PC Palmer.

Photo: A black hearse bears PC Palmer's body from the Chapel of St Mary. (Reuters: Ben Stansall)

"As police officers, we go to work every day knowing that we may be called upon to put our own lives in danger," he said.

"Police Constable Keith Palmer did just that to protect life and to protect Parliament.

"He did not waver — he stood firm and made that ultimate sacrifice in doing his duty. A hero to us all."

Hundreds of uniformed officers lined the cortege route from a chapel at the Parliament building, where PC Palmer's body lay overnight after special permission from Queen Elizabeth, to Southwark Cathedral beside the River Thames.

Photo: 'No 1 Daddy': Keith Palmer was remembered as a husband and a father. (Reuters: Neil Hall)

During the funeral procession, it was covered with a floral tribute that read: "No 1 Daddy."

Some 50 members of his family, including his wife, child and parents, attended the service at Southwark Cathedral.

Photo: Pall bearers carry the coffin on PC Keith Palmer into Southwark Cathedral. (Reuters: Frank Augstein)

Sara Thornton, head of the National Police Chiefs' Council, told the BBC: "I don't think we will have ever seen a police funeral of this size."

PC Palmer had not hesitated to act when confronted by a terrorist, she said.

Photo: British police officers line the streets for London attack victim PC Palmer's funeral. (Reuters: Hannah McKay)

Photo: A single rose was laid in front of PC Palmer's helmet. (Reuters: Ben Stansall)

"His bravery and his courage are something that all officers are very proud of," she added, "but also there is a tremendous sense of sadness and of loss."

PC Palmer's name was also added to the National Police Memorial, which records the names of those killed in the line of duty, during a London ceremony.

Masood killed four other victims and wounded scores as he rammed pedestrians on Westminster Bridge with a rented four-wheel drive. He was shot dead by police after stabbing PC Palmer.

Photo: Fellow police officers mourn PC Palmer, who died in the course of his duty. (Reuters: Peter Nicholls)

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Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, defence-and-national-security, crime, terrorism, england