Police kill Attempted Suicide Bomber

[Paoli]

They are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

That is a statement that I believe Ian Blair made. It is also one that I totally agree with. As bad as this was, the Police would have thought at the time that one life is less important than fifty. Unfortunate part of life.

[Trescothick]

Its good they stop any individual with a rucksack rather than any person who is 'muslim-looking' otherwise that would be extra-ordinary racist... So as far as the searches go, I think they should stop as many ruck-sacked people or heavy coated people as possible...

I can't say I agree with the shooting but say he was a terrorist they would be heros, saving hundreds of lives... Under the current circumstances you have to be really rather stupid to run in underground from armed police. My condolences go out to the families as that is a tradegy. Lets just hope the next shooting is a terrorist.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

the Police would have thought at the time that one life is less important than fifty.

Perhaps what they really thought was: "one illegal immigrant is a lot less important than one British policeman."

As the musketeers said: "all for one and one for all."

[Kirsty Harris]

Is it really necessary to shoot someone five times in the head?

Apparently, you are supposed to fire once, then call out another warning before shooting again. This didn't happen.

It's a tough call, because what if he had been a threat? The problem is it transpires he was wary of the police because he was living in this country illegally. I suppose it does need to be considered that people could be scared of the police for a variety of rasons. But is that really so easy to do in the heat of the moment.

I like to think I am a compassionate person by nature, but it's hard to judge what was the right thing to do in that situation. Perhaps they didn't react quite how they should have done, and that poor man has paid the price for it, but at the same time I find it hard to judge them too harshly for it, either.

[Andy Mellon]

Apparently, the 5 shots were necessary as they were using low-velocity bullets. Low velocity bullets are less likely to ricochet and hit any innocent bystanders. Unfortunately, they are less likely to do the required damage to 'take the target out'. Hence, five shots were necessary.... At least that's what they say!

[Mr Kiwi]

News from the colonies (apart from the usual aspersions as to prince harry's parentage . . .) is that the guy tripped jumping onto the train, was held down by three officers and glocked seven times in the head, once in the shoulder.

sure, jump on the guy, hold him down, frisk him (ie: find out if he is carrying what you think he's carrying), cart him away and shine bright lights in his face . . . but don't pump half a clip into him

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon 59568

Apparently, the 5 shots were necessary as they were using low-velocity bullets. Low velocity bullets are less likely to ricochet and hit any innocent bystanders. Unfortunately, they are less likely to do the required damage to 'take the target out'. Hence, five shots were necessary.... At least that's what they say!

A bullet to the head is a bullet to the head. They use MP5's, millitary and counter terrorism unit issued sub machine guns. One bullet would have done the job, especialy to the head.

[Maranello]

But they used eight from point blank range just to make sure - I guess the police's thinking was that you can never be too careful with Brazilian electricians...

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Maranello

But they used eight just to make sure

They used seven just to make sure.

They presumably killed him with the first bullet, unless that was the one that hit him in the shoulder.
Quite tough from that closer range... with all those people watching... that copper must have felt pretty stupid.

Bit like fluffing his lines on stage. No wonder they unloaded seven more.

I just wonder why they didn't read him his rights, having completely over-powered him. Perhaps they could've removed his jacket, or patted it down. I mean if you have rendered somebody completely immobile then he is unlikely to be able to trigger any detonators. Surely they could have asked questions first.

Presumably they already knew that their command of Portuguese was not up to scratch.

Perhaps the police should have geography lessons.
"Repeat after me: Brazil is in South America, Brazil is in South America."

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Oliver

They used seven just to make sure..

You pedant! You are right, is eight shots were fired, only seven were to 'make sure' the chap was dead.

Originally Posted by Oliver

I just wonder why they didn't read him his rights, having completely over-powered him.

Or why they let him get onto a bus for a 15 minute bus journey while they were following him, if he was a suspected suicide bomber? At that time, there was no urgency to stop him - but then later, all of a sudden the urgency was so great that he was killed even when completely overpowered?