Menezes operations room 'chaotic'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7661465.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A senior police officer involved in the operation that led to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes has said scenes in the control room were "chaotic".

He told an inquest that surveillance officers pursuing the Brazilian were "struggling" to communicate with their superiors because of the noise.

Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot dead on a train at Stockwell Tube station after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.

The identity of the officer, a detective superintendent, was withheld.

He denied at the Oval cricket ground inquest that his criticisms were prompted by departmental rivalry.

'Immediate threat'

Electrician Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head on 22 July 2005 by police who believed he was failed bomber Hussain Osman.

At the time, the officer giving evidence - referred to at the hearing as "Brian" - was carrying out administrative tasks in the Scotland Yard control room.

At times it was difficult to hear people not too far away Unidentified police officer

He was assisting Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the officer in charge of the operation to catch Osman.

But he said he was "bypassed" on many details and no one had been identified to him as being in charge.

He went on to say he was not aware Mr de Menezes had been identified when he was shot.

"There were no clear lines of communication," he also said.

"It was noisier than normal. There were a large amount of officers in a small room."

Asked about communication between surveillance officers on the ground in south London and the control room, he said: "I think at times they were struggling.

"The noise levels certainly did not lessen. At times it was difficult to hear people not too far away."

Clear command

Ms Dick, who completed her evidence on Wednesday, told the hearing she was led to believe that Mr de Menezes represented a "real and immediate threat" and was intending to cause an explosion.

Another unnamed officer, identified only as Nick, described the scene as Mr de Menezes got off a bus and made his way towards Stockwell station.

He said it caused "alarm".

"I just remember it was almost like an intake of air within the operations room when it was said 'towards the station'," he said.

"I remember that the commander [Ms Dick] stated that the male could not be allowed into the station.

"She spoke very clearly. It was clear."

He said firearms officers were told by Ms Dick to: "Make the stop."

But asked whether officers were certain the person being followed was suicide bombing suspect Osman, he said: "No sir, the strongest line I heard or was aware of was 'a good possible'.