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Police officer shot 'on instinct' Firearms Pc told 'keep gun down'
(about 2 hours later)
A specialist firearms officer who shot dead a colleague at close range on a police training exercise acted "instinctively", an inquest has heard. A firearms officer who fatally shot a colleague in the chest had been told to keep his gun pointed down during the training exercise, an inquest heard.
Pc Ian Terry, 32, was shot while holding an empty gun as Greater Manchester Police's firearms unit practised in a disused factory in 2008. The officer who shot Pc Ian Terry, 32, earlier said he acted "instinctively", as Greater Manchester Police's firearms unit practised in a disused factory.
He was playing the role of a criminal fleeing in a car when he was shot. The ammunition used to kill Pc Terry, in 2008, was only to be shot at a person if "there was a threat to life".
Coroner Nigel Meadows said the officer who shot the married father-of-two had said he had not intended to do so. Pc Terry was not wearing body armour, Coroner Nigel Meadows told the inquest.
The hearing was told the aim of the role-play was to immobilise the suspect vehicle by deflating its tyres and then pull the pretend armed robbers out of the vehicle. The father-of-two, from Burnley in Lancashire, was shot at close range while holding an empty gun, as he played the role of an armed robber fleeing in a car.
Officers taking part in the exercise were told specifically to keep shotguns aimed downwards at all times, it was alleged. The specialist firearms officer who shot him cannot be named for legal reasons, but is to be referred to as Chris throughout the five-week inquest.
The officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons but was referred to by the pseudonym Chris, was interviewed shortly after the incident at a disused factory in Newton Heath, Manchester. Fatal shot
Mr Meadows said: "He said he acted instinctively to the threat of the gun from Pc Terry, although it was appreciated it was a training exercise. Chris shot his fellow colleague with a single shot of Round Irritant Personnel (RIP) ammunition, the hearing was told. He was using a pump action shotgun at the time and was a foot away from Pc Terry when he fired the fatal shot.
"He later told an investigation carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission that he acted by instinct and had not intended to shoot a colleague." Throughout the training exercise, the inquest heard, the 20 officers taking part were told to keep their guns pointed down and aim only for the car's tyres.
Pc Terry, from Burnley in Lancashire, died in hospital shortly after the incident in June 2008. Chris said he acted instinctively to the threat of the gun from Pc Terry Coroner Nigel Meadows
The hearing, which is expected to last for five weeks, continues. The aim of the specialist firearms officers was to burst the tyres of Pc Terry's "getaway" car and then pull the "suspects" out of the vehicle.
Mr Meadows outlined what happened shortly before the shooting.
He said: "Pc Terry extended his left hand through the window of the vehicle. Chris approached from the rear and held up his firearm to cover the vehicle and the occupants.
"At some point Chris removed the safety catch as he approached the vehicle.
"He approached with the shotgun and he fired it at Pc Terry from about a foot from his body.
"The shot struck him on the left side of his chest."
The commander of the operation - under the pseudonym Francis - "had told the officers that there would be a shoot scenario which would involve a vehicle and the occupants and that they would have unloaded guns," Mr Meadows said.
"He also said the shotgun should only be used to deflate the tyre and to be pointed down at all times.
"Francis said he asked the group whether they understood the instructions and they replied they did."
Shooting 'unintended'
However, Mr Meadows said that Chris, who had been interviewed shortly after the shooting, said he was not aware he was in a shoot scenario.
He was interviewed at the site of the training exercise in a disused warehouse in Newton Heath, Manchester.
Mr Meadows told the hearing: "Chris said he acted instinctively to the threat of the gun from Pc Terry, although it was appreciated it was a training exercise.
"He later told the Independent Police Complaints Commission that he acted by instinct and had not intended to shoot a colleague."
Despite first aid at the scene, Pc Terry died later in hospital.
Before the inquest at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Mr Meadows said that at least 26 officers would be granted anonymity.
The hearing continues.