Family demand enquiry into Tube shooting

John-Paul Ford Rojas

August 17, 2005

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KILLED: jean de Menezes.

THE fatal shooting of an innocent Brazilian by anti-terror police was branded "shocking and terrifying" after new details of alleged blunders emerged.

Jean Charles de Menezes was gunned down at Stockwell Tube station in London in the mistaken belief that he was linked to the failed July 21 bomb attempts.

Initial accounts suggested that he had fled from armed officers by vaulting over barriers before stumbling on to an Underground train, where the officers opened fire.

But according to documents obtained by ITV News, the Brazilian entered the station at a normal walking pace and even picked up a copy of the free Metro newspaper.

The family of Mr de Menezes has called for a public inquiry into the death of the electrician.

His cousin Allessandro Pereira said: "My family deserve the full truth about his murder. The truth cannot be hidden any longer. It has to be made public."

Jacket

The leaked report also indicated that Mr de Menezes was wearing a light denim jacket and not a heavily-padded coat One police officer in the report was quoted as saying he was able to grab Mr de Menezes and pin his arms to his side before the shooting started.

Another told how earlier during the surveillance operation that led to the shooting he had been unable to record video footage of Mr de Menezes because he had been "relieving himself".

The report also said a post mortem examination showed that Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder, but three other bullets missed.

Police at the scene believed the Brazilian matched the description of one of two terror suspects, including Hussain Osman, the alleged Shepherd's Bush attempted bomber.

An extradition hearing for Osman - known as Hamdi Issac - opened in Rome today amid tight security.

Harriet Wistrich, lawyer for the de Menezes family, said: "There's obviously some level of incompetence here or some serious breakdown in communications with the various officers involved in surveillance."

The new account was said to have been obtained from the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the killing of the 27-year-old.

Inappropriate

The IPCC refused to confirm or deny the truth of the information, while Scotland Yard and the Home Office said it would be inappropriate to comment.

On July 22, police had been monitoring a flat in Scotia Road, Tulse Hill, south London, which they believed was linked to the previous day's bomb attempts.

Mr de Menezes left the property and one officer said he "checked the photographs" and thought "it would be worth someone else having a look".

CCTV footage showed that after Mr de Menezes entered Stockwell station he slowly descended the escalators before running for a train and sitting down.

"Almost simultaneously armed officers ... were provided with positive identification," the report says.

A man saw a man boarding and firing his first shot from a handgun at the head of Mr de Menezes from 12 inches away. A member of the surveillance team said he heard shouting including the word "police" before turning to face Mr de Menezes.

"He immediately stood up and advanced towards me ……. I then pushed him back on to the seat ... I then heard a gun shot very close to my left ear."

Should there be a public enquiry into the killing of Jean de Menezes? Have your say.

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Stuart, Audenshaw (17/08/2005 at 13:15)

I'm just glad I have no sun tan!

SB, Oldham (17/08/2005 at 13:17)

My comments on previous news briefs stand on this matter. A innocent young man who had everything to live for has been killed by the police. Yes it was a mistake but a very big mistake that sadly the police tried to cover up with lies. That is the biggest shock, that the police lied to cover up their tracks.

Well I wonder if all the people who said in the previous comments, bravo to the the police, and well done them will still say the same thing, now knowing that the police lied.

Well, why don't the Met Police Commissioner let the officers have a good few months paid holiday to Hawai?

E Canfor-Dumas, Herts (17/08/2005 at 13:38)

Why did the police give such a totally inaccurate description of events following the shooting of this young man? Confusion, or a deliberate attempt to 'spin' the story to justify their error? Coming after the failure to find WMD in Iraq, is it any wonder that many people find it increasingly difficult to believe the statements of those in authority? Clearly, the 'war on terror' fits the dictum that truth is the first casualty of war. The situation is so highly politicised that it's hard to know what to believe any more. It's time for more honesty all round. Only then will we start to regain trust in our politicians and police officers.

Simon., manchester (17/08/2005 at 13:39)

Although my heart goes out to the family of Mr Menezes, I cant help but feel that we are at war and well, no matter how painful and deplorable this accident is, the police are human although highly trained, mistakes do and will happen. I'm sure many people may disagree but the 'what if' scenario puts alot of pressure on a persons shoulders and in this particular situation the pressure proved to be too much for the police officers in question. (yes for the sake of his family there should be a public enquiry&the officers should not be allowed to carry fire arms again)

Keith Stacey, WEMBLEY (17/08/2005 at 13:51)

The commissioner should resign.

Andrew, Bristol (17/08/2005 at 13:58)

Very shocking, it seems the story spinners were out very quickly with a blatantly false cover version after the shooting. They must have known it was a huge mistake very soon afterwards but still they tried to deflect any blame.
Ian Blair......resign

Jack Horner, Sitting in the Corner (17/08/2005 at 14:10)

I believe that there is no smoke without fire. The police would not shoot an innocent man. The fact they they could not find enough evidence to link him in irrelevant. He had connections with terrorists, he even lived in the same flat! Every war has casualties but Mr Menezes doesn't fit that criteria, he was a target in the war against terrorism. I say well done to the Police, and if they have to a bit creative with the truth, then so be it. The greater good is the issue here. Same goes for Tony Blair's claims about WMD. So what if they didn't exist? It was a decent enough excuse to rid the country of an evil dictator and stamp out some more terrorist scum.

Leminkainen, Pennsylvania (17/08/2005 at 14:18)

Re: Possible cover up by police authorities. The old saying, "no need to look for conspiracy when stupidity will explain" seems to apply here.

peter lockwood, queensland australia (17/08/2005 at 14:54)

For those who think its a acceptable error,think next time, it could be you going shopping and you could just look like a suspect.It sounds to me like a payback gone wrong.When you "execute" someone in public,just becouse you "think" its a terrorist.Is this the best of british ?What if you or I went up to someone and killed them in cold blood,becouse we thought they were giong to harm someone ?

L. Hynds, Victoria, Canada (17/08/2005 at 15:03)

Shot seven times in the head is overkill to say the least. Aren't there surveillance videos from the location of the tube? And what of the witnesses? Of course there should be an inquiry. A productive young citizen has been snuffed ON film. His family deserves an answer so they can process and deal with their grief accordingly.
But if I was them, I'd sue the London Police Department.

Danny, Moston (17/08/2005 at 15:14)

Having heard the "official" story, I originally felt this man had to be involved and had something to hide. Now, after seeing the image on sky news website, it seems the details were clearly incorrect. He had a light denim jacket on, not a padded one as in the original story and the "surveillance" being carried out were not even watching him. This needs a full investigation with NO MORE LIES, IAN BLAIR

Ellen Maclachlan, Toronto Canada (17/08/2005 at 15:17)

I am appalled that the Police has executed an innocent victim again. Regardless, of their being a terror alert this in no gives the police free rein to kill at will! The Police Department and the Government should be made accountable for their actions. Democracy comes with limits and rights of all individuals, but in reality only the government seem to enshrine these rights.

Dan, work (17/08/2005 at 15:22)

Seems to me that had he not been defrauding the state and here illegally he wouldnt be dead... Sure we should treat all illegals the same... we have legitimate routes to gain access to the uk for good reason.

english & proud, manchester ENGLAND (17/08/2005 at 15:44)

As far as I can see most people who are making comments from outside the UK seem to be talking rubbish! WE ARE AT WAR! Come back when you have experienced what our great country has experienced throughout our history, and then we can take you seriously! The man died, it was horrific and it is a tragedy but if you had the choice of either saving peoples lives for the loss of one then its just obvious! The need of the many outweighs the need of the few every time! So if you have nothing intelligent to say then,well go back to you primative schooling!

MSD, freeworld (17/08/2005 at 15:59)

Strange that in Jack Horners comment when you skip every ten letters - 1 per step (n-1) there may to be a message there. Perhaps to terrorists? Good thing Scotland Yard will cross his IP with their DB to monitor his activities. Why, they are probably breaking down his door right now. Hope he's not shot for the greater good.

Paul Lockett, Manchester (17/08/2005 at 16:14)

The Metropolitan police hierarchy have tried the same ploy that was used by the police responsible for the Hillsborough disaster; lie to shift the blame onto the victim, in the hope that when the results of an enquiry are published months down the line, the incident will be out of the headlines and forgotten about. I applaud the person responsible for leaking this information. The truth had to be told now, before the lies have had chance to stick.

Ellen MacLachlan, Toronto Canada (17/08/2005 at 17:30)

In reply to English & Proud, Manchester, England
I have a right to reply to an unfortunate tragedy and hopefully the government, police and people at large will learn from their mistakes and not repeat this in the future. However, you English & Proud have not right to openly discriminate against my country or others because we do not agree with your comments. You sound like a bigot and for your information Canadian Universities are First Class!

Colin, M/cr (17/08/2005 at 17:34)

I still stand by the police! Tragic that this man was shot but regardless of whether he was innocent he still lived with terrorists and then after what had happened thought he would be clever and run off! And the comments regarding the denim jacket? So what he could have had a grenade or anything! As other comments say we are at war, and the only way to deal with it is to be ruthless! As hard as it is to bear, everyone should support the police! Cause think if this guy would have ran and blew himself up on a train with a small device killing others it would be some of the people on here complaining "why wasn't he stopped"!!!

skv, dallas (17/08/2005 at 17:43)

"As far as I can see most people who are making comments from outside the UK seem to be talking rubbish! WE ARE AT WAR! "

Thats a complete different story

"then,well go back to you primative schooling!"

Maybe you might want get back to school yourself,
I wonder you would have the same rhetoric, if it was one of your family.... I bet your opinion would change in a second...

Buddy Holly, Lubbock, TX (17/08/2005 at 18:16)

The trigger-happy scumbag who murdered this innocent man should be named, shamed and brought to justice.

Ted K, Chorlton (17/08/2005 at 19:23)

If he`d left the country when his visa was up this wouldn`t have happened.
Although I`m more concerned with the fact that the police missed with 3 of the shots! I think more target practise is in order.

firefox, san diego (17/08/2005 at 20:51)

Killing of innocent people is what fuels terrorism. When you say "We are at WAR", what really is happening is killing of lots of innocent people with few actual terrorists. And this in turn produces more terrorists. You cant kill terrorists by throwing bombs from planes, you make terrorists this way. If throwing bombs from planes would kill them, then why no plane bombed london to kill terrorists? You can only kill terroists by intelligence and by killing their leaders. By sending armies and plane bombing, we are only creating more & more terroists. Well there is one last thing, what do terrorists want? Why dont we give palestianians their land back, it is their land after all. Injustice breeds terrorism. I am not a muslim by the way.

firefox, california (17/08/2005 at 20:58)

Well, I am not running to catch a train or a bus now, even if it means missing my ride. Who knows, some idiot cop will shoot me. I am not a muslim but I do have brown skin like billions others who are not muslims.

Renato, Manchester (17/08/2005 at 22:00)

Be carefull, Brazilians will fight back. Just wait untill Germany 2006... Brazil 5 X 0 England.

ioney, no man's land (18/08/2005 at 02:01)

I was appalled to see the crime scene on tv.

Perhaps he should walk around looking like beckham and he wouldn't have been shot whilst sitting in the train.

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