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Police shoot man dead in raid tied to alleged prison escape plot Police shoot man dead in raid tied to alleged prison escape plot
(about 1 hour later)
Police say they have shot a man dead and arrested four others in a London-wide operation to foil alleged attempts to help a prisoner escape custody.Police say they have shot a man dead and arrested four others in a London-wide operation to foil alleged attempts to help a prisoner escape custody.
The man was shot on a street in Wood Green, north London following a “pre-planned operation” by elite Scotland Yard units whose officers swooped on suspects at about 9am on Friday morning.The man was shot on a street in Wood Green, north London following a “pre-planned operation” by elite Scotland Yard units whose officers swooped on suspects at about 9am on Friday morning.
The scene of the shooting was yards from Wood Green crown court and witnesses said they had taken cover after mayhem erupted. The scene of the shooting was yards from Wood Green crown court and witnesses said they took cover cover after mayhem erupted.
Paramedics and London’s air ambulance attended the scene and tried to save the man’s life, but he died shortly afterwards from a gunshot wound.Paramedics and London’s air ambulance attended the scene and tried to save the man’s life, but he died shortly afterwards from a gunshot wound.
Armed officers supporting colleagues from Scotland Yard’s organised crime unit carried out the raid.Armed officers supporting colleagues from Scotland Yard’s organised crime unit carried out the raid.
A police tent was erected in the road after the shooting, and witnesses said they saw a man being treated in the street.The Metropolitan police posted a tweet saying the operation was not related to terrorism.A police tent was erected in the road after the shooting, and witnesses said they saw a man being treated in the street.The Metropolitan police posted a tweet saying the operation was not related to terrorism.
In a statement, the Met said: “Two of the men were arrested in the area of Bracknell Close, N22. They have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate the escape of an individual from lawful custody. There were two further related arrests.In a statement, the Met said: “Two of the men were arrested in the area of Bracknell Close, N22. They have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate the escape of an individual from lawful custody. There were two further related arrests.
“The four men arrested are at separate London police stations, and we are not prepared to provide any further information as to where. During the operation in Bracknell Close a man was shot and has subsequently died.“The four men arrested are at separate London police stations, and we are not prepared to provide any further information as to where. During the operation in Bracknell Close a man was shot and has subsequently died.
“The circumstances of that shooting are now under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and as such it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.”“The circumstances of that shooting are now under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and as such it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.”
We can confirm the police operation in #WoodGreen is not related to terrorismWe can confirm the police operation in #WoodGreen is not related to terrorism
The Met said the operation involved its organised crime command and specialist firearms operational command unit.The Met said the operation involved its organised crime command and specialist firearms operational command unit.
The Ministry of Justice refused to confirm reports that the incident was connected to the sentencing of two men, Erwin Amoyaw-Gyamfi and Erun Izzet, who were due in court on carjacking and firearms offences at 10am on Friday.
“Following discussions with the police, there is an increased security presence at Wood Green crown court today,” an MoJ spokesman said. “The court continues to operate as normal. We cannot comment on this incident as it is now subject to a police investigation.”
One Twitter user said the shooting happened on Winkfield Road and posted a picture showing police on the street, but Scotland Yard would not confirm the report.One Twitter user said the shooting happened on Winkfield Road and posted a picture showing police on the street, but Scotland Yard would not confirm the report.
A second picture posted by the same user showed the air ambulance had landed in White Hart Lane recreation ground.A second picture posted by the same user showed the air ambulance had landed in White Hart Lane recreation ground.
Something is happening in wood green again. Police everywhere and medical helicopter. pic.twitter.com/SbFygw1Jb5Something is happening in wood green again. Police everywhere and medical helicopter. pic.twitter.com/SbFygw1Jb5
This, plus 2 hovering police helicopters in Wood Green. What's going on? pic.twitter.com/O8fh8jFHqMThis, plus 2 hovering police helicopters in Wood Green. What's going on? pic.twitter.com/O8fh8jFHqM
At the scene in Bracknell Close, residents stood near a police cordon watching uniformed and plainclothes officers.At the scene in Bracknell Close, residents stood near a police cordon watching uniformed and plainclothes officers.
Donald Campbell and his crew of road resurfacers were working yards away when armed police swooped. “I just saw the flash,” Campbell said. “I thought it was two blokes having a fight. I was sitting in my lorry, tipping it out.”Donald Campbell and his crew of road resurfacers were working yards away when armed police swooped. “I just saw the flash,” Campbell said. “I thought it was two blokes having a fight. I was sitting in my lorry, tipping it out.”
Campbell said he saw the incident through his rear-view mirror, as a series of unmarked police cars sped past him down the road. “Four, and then five, and then six. The police were up on the balcony [of flats overlooking the scene] as well. Obviously they came out of a house,” he said.Campbell said he saw the incident through his rear-view mirror, as a series of unmarked police cars sped past him down the road. “Four, and then five, and then six. The police were up on the balcony [of flats overlooking the scene] as well. Obviously they came out of a house,” he said.
“I have to look in my wing mirror and then I just seen the flash. Then I saw the police just tipping him over. He was in a black Audi. If I could make a guess, I would say he was Turkish.” “I have to look in my wing mirror and then I just saw the flash. Then I saw the police just tipping him over. He was in a black Audi. If I could make a guess, I would say he was Turkish.”
Campbell, a worker with Ringway but wearing the livery of the London Highways Alliance, said he and his crew had worked on the road four or five times before, “and we have had altercations with people down there every time”, he added.Campbell, a worker with Ringway but wearing the livery of the London Highways Alliance, said he and his crew had worked on the road four or five times before, “and we have had altercations with people down there every time”, he added.
“They think they own the road. I would surmise why the police were so quick there; something was going to happen. He [the victim] was sitting there to do something, I think anyway. That’s just my opinion because I know the people that live down there.”“They think they own the road. I would surmise why the police were so quick there; something was going to happen. He [the victim] was sitting there to do something, I think anyway. That’s just my opinion because I know the people that live down there.”
Another road worker, Nick Lindsay, said he had heard a car window smash. “The next minute a gunshot went off and the police were just shouting at us to get down,” he said. “And then out pops someone’s head from one of the flats, and we were dragged off to the end of the road, told to stay away. They’d obviously been watching the car.”Another road worker, Nick Lindsay, said he had heard a car window smash. “The next minute a gunshot went off and the police were just shouting at us to get down,” he said. “And then out pops someone’s head from one of the flats, and we were dragged off to the end of the road, told to stay away. They’d obviously been watching the car.”
Lindsay said just one man was in the car, which had its lights on. “We were told it was not terrorists and probably gang-related,” he said.Lindsay said just one man was in the car, which had its lights on. “We were told it was not terrorists and probably gang-related,” he said.
Angie Buzzacott, a local tenants’ representative, said she was shocked by the incident. “We have had, over the years, problems with gangs,” she said, “normally the fact that they come through here heading towards different estates. We have had similar incidents, a drive-by, but it’s not something that we call a regular thing.”Angie Buzzacott, a local tenants’ representative, said she was shocked by the incident. “We have had, over the years, problems with gangs,” she said, “normally the fact that they come through here heading towards different estates. We have had similar incidents, a drive-by, but it’s not something that we call a regular thing.”
Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the shooting continue, and the police’s directorate of professional standards was informed.Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the shooting continue, and the police’s directorate of professional standards was informed.
The law requires that shootings are investigated by the IPCC. Its investigators went to the scene in Haringey and will be looking for any sign of weapons in the vicinity of the shooting. For a police shooting to be lawful, officers have to show that they opened fire to protect their own lives or those of others.The law requires that shootings are investigated by the IPCC. Its investigators went to the scene in Haringey and will be looking for any sign of weapons in the vicinity of the shooting. For a police shooting to be lawful, officers have to show that they opened fire to protect their own lives or those of others.