Thoughts on London Tube Shooting

The man shot yesterday by police in London on the tube, has been named as 27-year-old Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian. The Met Police Chief, Ian Blair issued a statement following the incident confirming that the shooting was directly connected with the investigation into the recent attempted terrorist attacks. It now apears that this was not the case.

I have read and seen TV news footage of several eye-witness accounts. All of them seem to agree that de Menezes was chased by three men, he tripped or fell, and was held down by two men while the third fired five shots into his head.

Is it me, or does this sound more like a public execution than a security exercise?

It is difficult to obtain information about the incident, but it does appear that de Menezes emerged from a premises under surveillance as a result of the London terrorist activity. It would also appear that he decided to run from the police when challenged. I have also read that his clothes appeared suspicious. Of course, the fact that he ran from police is significant. It has been claimed that de Menezes had no reason to run, but I suspect that the police chasing him were not in uniform, at least one of them appears to have had a side arm drawn. One must question whether he was running from police, or three men chasing him with a gun.

I found out today that policy over police use of firearms in Britain is currently confidential. That is to say, we don't know if the police acted properly (within their remit) or not. I must say however, that I would find it nothing short of astonishing to discover that running through a crowded tube station brandishing a gun and shouting is acceptable. Even the Americans would think twice wouldn't they?

And of course, there have been repurcussions already. The London Muslim community has already been rattled by the incident, and understably so. An independent inquirey has been demanded from several people. The Brazilian Foreign Minister is on his way to London to seek and explanation from Jack Straw. A review of firearm policy shake up has also been suggested.

And through all this we see prize idiot, ex Met Police chief, John Stevens putting his oar in. Stevens warned against ending the "shoot-to-kill" policy for bombers. Well that will put everyone's mind at rest won't it.