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Police criticised on terror raid Police criticised on terror raid
(20 minutes later)
The Metropolitan Police has been told it should apologise to the two families involved in the "terrifying experience" of the Forest Gate anti-terror raid.The Metropolitan Police has been told it should apologise to the two families involved in the "terrifying experience" of the Forest Gate anti-terror raid.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had upheld a small number of complaints relating to the operation in east London in June 2006.The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had upheld a small number of complaints relating to the operation in east London in June 2006.
But the watchdog said that it accepted the police had had no choice but to act based on the available intelligence. But the watchdog said it accepted that the police had had no choice but to act based on the available intelligence.
One man was shot in the raid but he and another arrested man were not charged.One man was shot in the raid but he and another arrested man were not charged.
Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23 - the man shot in the shoulder - and his brother Abul Koyair, 20, were released without charge a week after the police operation. Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23 - the man shot in the shoulder - and his brother Abul Koyair, 20, were released a week after the police operation.
Police believed there could be a chemical device at the house None of this should minimise the... sense of grievance felt by all those affected by what must have been a terrifying experience IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass
Police had been hunting for a suspected chemical device but no evidence of involvement in terror-related activities was found. Police had been hunting for a suspected chemical device, but no evidence of involvement in terror-related activities was found.
In response to the report, Scotland Yard said it was glad that an independent body had concluded its actions at Forest Gate were proportionate, necessary and motivated by public safety. Scotland Yard said it was glad that an independent body had concluded its actions at Forest Gate were proportionate, necessary and motivated by public safety.
But a group which has worked with the families dismissed the report as a "whitewash". The IPCC said police tactics had been "forceful and aggressive", but that this was inevitable as they believed they were dealing with a terrorist threat.
The IPCC said police tactics had been "forceful and aggressive" but that this was inevitable as they believed they were dealing with a terrorist threat. But the police should have changed their response much sooner once in control of the situation, it said.
But the commission said the police should have changed their response much sooner once in control of the situation. (My dad) is 60 years old, he was half naked and they were beating him on the floor Abdul Kahar class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6357633.stm">Families' statement
The 11 members of the two households involved in the raid made 150 separate complaints over how they had been treated, including that family members not arrested at the scene were taken to a police station.The 11 members of the two households involved in the raid made 150 separate complaints over how they had been treated, including that family members not arrested at the scene were taken to a police station.
None of this should minimise the ... sense of grievance felt by all those affected by what must have been a terrifying experience IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass Families' statement
The IPCC said one police officer had received a written warning for an allegation of neglect.The IPCC said one police officer had received a written warning for an allegation of neglect.
IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass said: "I've concluded that the police were right to take no chances with public safety.IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass said: "I've concluded that the police were right to take no chances with public safety.
"But they were wrong not to have planned better for the intelligence being wrong."But they were wrong not to have planned better for the intelligence being wrong.
"We have upheld a small number of complaints involving treatment in custody. We didn't uphold any complaints about excessive force although there is no doubt some of the residents were damaged by police actions.""We have upheld a small number of complaints involving treatment in custody. We didn't uphold any complaints about excessive force although there is no doubt some of the residents were damaged by police actions."
She added: "The plans included hundreds of officers on standby for what might happen if they found a device. What they didn't plan for was what would happen if they didn't find a device."
READ THE IPCC REPORT Full document [979KB] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Reader. Download the reader hereREAD THE IPCC REPORT Full document [979KB] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Reader. Download the reader here
Ms Glass said the police tactics had been very forceful, but the IPCC said the level of force had to be judged in the light of intelligence which suggested an "extreme lethal threat". Ms Glass said the level of force had to be judged in the light of intelligence which suggested an "extreme lethal threat".
She added: "None of this should minimise the deep and understandable sense of grievance felt by all those affected by what must have been a terrifying experience."She added: "None of this should minimise the deep and understandable sense of grievance felt by all those affected by what must have been a terrifying experience."
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, of the Metropolitan Police's Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate, said he was happy to reiterate the three apologies the force had made. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock, of the Metropolitan Police's diversity and citizen focus directorate, said he was happy to reiterate three apologies the force had already made.
But he insisted: "We need to move on from repeating our apologies over and over again and need to learn the lessons around community engagement."But he insisted: "We need to move on from repeating our apologies over and over again and need to learn the lessons around community engagement."
The raid sparked anger among some MuslimsThe raid sparked anger among some Muslims
And he said Scotland Yard welcomed the IPCC's findings that "we were proportionate, it was necessary to do what we did and it was for public safety".
Senior officers are considering what facilities should be on stand-by in the event of people being caught up in raids.
Mr Kahar said: "I don't believe any form of intelligence they have is justification to attack people like this, brutally attacking my dad. He is 60 years old, he was half naked and they were beating him on the floor."Mr Kahar said: "I don't believe any form of intelligence they have is justification to attack people like this, brutally attacking my dad. He is 60 years old, he was half naked and they were beating him on the floor."
Hanif Doga, who lived at one of the houses raided and says he was struck on the head with a gun, said: "I could have died from this injury, yet the IPCC dismiss it as a minor head injury and call for no further action.Hanif Doga, who lived at one of the houses raided and says he was struck on the head with a gun, said: "I could have died from this injury, yet the IPCC dismiss it as a minor head injury and call for no further action.
We need to move on from repeating our apologies over and over again and need to learn the lessons around community engagement Alf Hitchcock, Metropolitan Police
"I am deeply disappointed at this report - this is belittling proper investigation.""I am deeply disappointed at this report - this is belittling proper investigation."
The Kalam family, one of those involved in the raid, said they welcomed the IPCC's recommendation for a public apology. The Kalam family said they welcomed the IPCC's recommendation for a public apology.
But they added: "It is eight months too late and doesn't go far enough. We each raised many complaints about our brutal treatment at the hands of the police with the IPCC, yet unbelievably, no action is to be taken."But they added: "It is eight months too late and doesn't go far enough. We each raised many complaints about our brutal treatment at the hands of the police with the IPCC, yet unbelievably, no action is to be taken."
Assad Rehman, chairman of the Newham Monitoring Project, an anti-racism group that represented the brothers, said the report was a "whitewash".Assad Rehman, chairman of the Newham Monitoring Project, an anti-racism group that represented the brothers, said the report was a "whitewash".