Trigger happy British cop shoots unarmed man

An independent inquiry was launched today into a police ambush of a suspected robbery gang in which a man was shot in the throat as he sat in a car and another hit with a Taser stun gun.

Three suspects were taken to hospital after officers from CO19, the Met's specialist firearms unit, opened fire in south-east London. No weapons were found. One suspect suffered stomach pains although it is not believed he was shot.

The ambush took place outside a Boots store in Eltham High Street at about 7am yesterday when the suspects were under surveillance in an operation by armed officers and members of the Met's Flying Squad.

The shooting was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission by the Met. In a statement the IPCC said: “During the operation, an armed response vehicle approached a car containing three men. As they approached the car, one officer fired a shot and the bullet hit one of the men. The man was taken to a London hospital, where his condition is described as non-critical.”

Police are believed to have fired a Taser at one suspect when the gang allegedly tried to take two women hostages inside the Boots store.

The case comes after the CO19 unit faced criticism at an inquest into the shooting of drunk barrister Mark Saunders in Chelsea.

Witnesses to yesterday's ambush said police were in a big, black unmarked car while the suspects were in a small white one. The witness said: “All the windows are smashed.”

IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: “IPCC investigators are working to gather information from CCTV, house-to-house inquiries and police logs as well as collecting initial accounts from the officers involved. “We will be examining the reason why the police officer discharged his firearm to consider whether he was justified in doing so.”

Police said five men had been arrested.

Original report here




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