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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gun police 'must identify' target | Gun police 'must identify' target |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Police should not shoot on the basis of "a less than positive identification", a senior officer has told the Jean Charles de Menezes inquest. | Police should not shoot on the basis of "a less than positive identification", a senior officer has told the Jean Charles de Menezes inquest. |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner John McDowall agreed that he would "not contemplate" firing a "critical shot" unless he was sure who the target was. | Deputy Assistant Commissioner John McDowall agreed that he would "not contemplate" firing a "critical shot" unless he was sure who the target was. |
| Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot dead by police after they mistook him for would-be bomber Hussain Osman. | Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot dead by police after they mistook him for would-be bomber Hussain Osman. |
| Osman and three others tried to attack transport in London on 21 July 2005. | Osman and three others tried to attack transport in London on 21 July 2005. |
| 'Armed intervention' | 'Armed intervention' |
| Giving evidence by video link, Mr McDowall, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, was asked about the protocol for firearms officers. | Giving evidence by video link, Mr McDowall, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, was asked about the protocol for firearms officers. |
| Coroner Sir Michael Wright said: "You are not suggesting that at any time you would contemplate an armed officer taking a critical shot on the basis of a less than positive identification?" | Coroner Sir Michael Wright said: "You are not suggesting that at any time you would contemplate an armed officer taking a critical shot on the basis of a less than positive identification?" |
| Mr McDowall replied: "No, that's correct sir." The chemical and biological threat, which of course is everyone's worst nightmare, [had] emerged at some point as well Deputy Assistant Commissioner John McDowall | Mr McDowall replied: "No, that's correct sir." The chemical and biological threat, which of course is everyone's worst nightmare, [had] emerged at some point as well Deputy Assistant Commissioner John McDowall |
| His own barrister, David Perry QC, asked him about "the degree of identification" needed before an "armed intervention" would be authorised. | His own barrister, David Perry QC, asked him about "the degree of identification" needed before an "armed intervention" would be authorised. |
| "If you think someone is going into a transport system and that they are going to cause hundreds of casualties, you may have to make a judgment balancing the risks?" he asked. | "If you think someone is going into a transport system and that they are going to cause hundreds of casualties, you may have to make a judgment balancing the risks?" he asked. |
| The deputy assistant commissioner replied: "Yes, it's a judgment about whether what you have is sufficient to mount that operation or not." | The deputy assistant commissioner replied: "Yes, it's a judgment about whether what you have is sufficient to mount that operation or not." |
| On Thursday, the inquest heard that some of the police staking out the home of Mr de Menezes on 22 July did not have a picture of the real suspect they were looking for. | On Thursday, the inquest heard that some of the police staking out the home of Mr de Menezes on 22 July did not have a picture of the real suspect they were looking for. |
| 'Unique circumstance' | 'Unique circumstance' |
| Mr McDowall led the hunt for Osman and his fellow failed bombers. He told the hearing he got just two hours' sleep on the night of 21 July 2005 and only went home once over a month-long period. | Mr McDowall led the hunt for Osman and his fellow failed bombers. He told the hearing he got just two hours' sleep on the night of 21 July 2005 and only went home once over a month-long period. |
| He said that having failed suicide bombers on the run was a "unique circumstance". | He said that having failed suicide bombers on the run was a "unique circumstance". |
| He recalled a discussion on the morning of 22 July in which he raised concerns to other senior officers that the men might have access to more explosives and might try again to carry out their plan. THE MENEZES KILLING What happened in more detail | He recalled a discussion on the morning of 22 July in which he raised concerns to other senior officers that the men might have access to more explosives and might try again to carry out their plan. THE MENEZES KILLING What happened in more detail |
| He also said there was some evidence - a pepper-like substance - found at the scenes of the four failed attacks which suggested they might be linked to the 7 July bombings, which killed 52 people. | He also said there was some evidence - a pepper-like substance - found at the scenes of the four failed attacks which suggested they might be linked to the 7 July bombings, which killed 52 people. |
| And he added: "The chemical and biological threat, which of course is everyone's worst nightmare, [had] emerged at some point here as well." | And he added: "The chemical and biological threat, which of course is everyone's worst nightmare, [had] emerged at some point here as well." |
| One of the key issues for the inquest is likely to be the failure by police to stop Mr de Menezes before he reached Stockwell Underground station. | One of the key issues for the inquest is likely to be the failure by police to stop Mr de Menezes before he reached Stockwell Underground station. |
| A senior Scotland Yard firearms tactical adviser, identified only as Andrew, said he would "not have had any hesitation" about sending a team of specialist armed officers to intercept him. | A senior Scotland Yard firearms tactical adviser, identified only as Andrew, said he would "not have had any hesitation" about sending a team of specialist armed officers to intercept him. |
| "I think at this time this was the single most important thing in the Metropolitan Police to be resolved," he said. | "I think at this time this was the single most important thing in the Metropolitan Police to be resolved," he said. |
| 'Getting somewhere' | |
| Chief Superintendent Tim White, who authorised the use of firearms after 21 July, also gave evidence. He denied suggestions by the de Menezes' lawyer Michael Mansfield QC that officers had failed to properly document their actions during that period. | Chief Superintendent Tim White, who authorised the use of firearms after 21 July, also gave evidence. He denied suggestions by the de Menezes' lawyer Michael Mansfield QC that officers had failed to properly document their actions during that period. |
| "There was a huge amount of activity," he said. "I believe records were kept at every opportunity that people were able to do it." | "There was a huge amount of activity," he said. "I believe records were kept at every opportunity that people were able to do it." |
| The jury will consider whether or not Mr de Menezes was unlawfully killed. | The jury will consider whether or not Mr de Menezes was unlawfully killed. |
| After the first week of evidence, family spokeswoman Yasmin Khan wrote on the official Justice4Jean campaign blog: "We do not know what the inquest will bring in terms of outcomes, but the very process is just as important for the family as finally it feels we are getting somewhere. | |
| "And we all have this excited feeling that, really, we are only just warming up." | |
| There have been five inquiries relating to the death and its aftermath, including a criminal trial. | There have been five inquiries relating to the death and its aftermath, including a criminal trial. |
| In 2007, an Old Bailey jury found the Metropolitan Police guilty of breaching health and safety laws, after hearing about the events leading up to the Brazilian being shot. | In 2007, an Old Bailey jury found the Metropolitan Police guilty of breaching health and safety laws, after hearing about the events leading up to the Brazilian being shot. |