Post-traumatic stress: Krzysztof Tokarski was on his way to work when he was attacked outside Parliament
(Picture: handout)A cyclist who was injured in a terror attack outside Parliament has told how he overcame PTSD to get back on his bike.
Krzysztof Tokarski, 47, was among a group of cyclists hurt when Salih Khater drove a hire car at them before targeting police outside Parliament in August 2018.
Khater, 30, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of attempted murder and was jailed for life. He had tried to “kill as many as possible” and it was miraculous nobody died, the court heard.
Mr Tokarski, a father of two from Twickenham and head of regulatory compliance audit at HSBC, said he was left mentally scarred, unable to cope at work and terrified of traffic.
He said he felt sorry for Khater, and was determined to get back on his bike “to show that London cyclists are a resilient bunch”.
Mr Tokarski, who had been cycling to work in Canary Wharf, said: “I was with a group of other cyclists when a car started behaving erratically. I took a second glance as it started revving its engine and driving towards us.
“This quick glance saved my life, otherwise I would have been crushed. The scene descended in chaos with people in shock screaming, running for their lives and some trying to help others. One guy even chased the terrorist’s car on foot.” ”
Mr Tokarski was treated under armed guard at St Thomas’s hospital for a broken finger, cuts and bruises.
“I was lucky to survive with only minor injuries considering a terrorist had driven his car at me,” he said.
“It took a lot longer for the mental scars to heal as I suffered anxiety, depression and became scared of traffic. I was treated by doctors who normally treat soldiers who return from war zones with PTSD and became increasingly frustrated with myself that I couldn’t just get over what happened to me.
“I was determined not to let the incident have a long-term impact on me. I was ultra-vigilant, scared of traffic, but I wanted to get back on my bike.”
He bought a new bike and restarted cycling to work several months after the attack. “I am still fearful of traffic and always look at how I could escape if a car or bus veered into me,” he said.
“I feel sorry for the terrorist that he felt the need to do what he did.”
In court, Khater’s defence said he had not offered any explanation for his actions.
However, Mrs Justice McGowan, sentencing, said Khater had deliberately copied terrorists, telling him: “Your undoubted intention was to kill as many people as possible.”
Mr Tokarski has reached an out-of-court settlement for a five-figure sum against the Motor Insurance Bureau after suing through London law firm Osbornes Law.
Barbara Wojno, his personal injury lawyer, said: “My client suffered serious mental trauma because of the horrors he went through.
“He is only just recovering now and will always have to live with the terrible memories of that day. I hope that his successful civil case and settlement will help him draw a line under the incident and help him to move on with his life.”
