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Man 'wielding knife' shot dead by police in London Man 'wielding knife' shot dead by police in London
(8 months later)
Armed officers shot and killed a man on Friday who they said had broken into a house and threatened a woman with a knife.Armed officers shot and killed a man on Friday who they said had broken into a house and threatened a woman with a knife.
It was the first fatal shooting by Metropolitan police officers since that of Mark Duggan in August 2011 which led to the worst riots in modern English history.It was the first fatal shooting by Metropolitan police officers since that of Mark Duggan in August 2011 which led to the worst riots in modern English history.
The death followed an apparent standoff, with bullets fired by police hitting the man inside the house in Islington, north London. The 40-year-old died after multiple shots were fired. One witness described hearing one shot, then a pause, then four more fired in quick succession.The death followed an apparent standoff, with bullets fired by police hitting the man inside the house in Islington, north London. The 40-year-old died after multiple shots were fired. One witness described hearing one shot, then a pause, then four more fired in quick succession.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating. The IPCC is expected to treat officers as witnesses rather than suspects as investigators try to establish the sequence of events that led to officers opening fire, and their belief they had no choice because the life of the woman, themselves or their colleagues, was in imminent danger from the suspect. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating. The IPCC is expected to treat officers as witnesses rather than suspects as investigators try to establish the sequence of events that led to officers opening fire, and their belief they had no choice because the life of the woman, themselves or their colleagues, was in imminent danger from the suspect.
In a statement Met police commander Neil Basu said officers were called on Thursday to reports of a man breaking into a house, and arrived at 11.19pm to find a man threatening a woman with a knife.In a statement Met police commander Neil Basu said officers were called on Thursday to reports of a man breaking into a house, and arrived at 11.19pm to find a man threatening a woman with a knife.
A police negotiator was sent to the scene. Police policy is to resolve such incidents peacefully and wait it out unless a threat to life emerges.A police negotiator was sent to the scene. Police policy is to resolve such incidents peacefully and wait it out unless a threat to life emerges.
Basu said officers believe "the man and woman were known to each other – at this stage we cannot confirm the exact relationship".Basu said officers believe "the man and woman were known to each other – at this stage we cannot confirm the exact relationship".
Just before 1am on Fridayafter a standoff of about 90 minutes, armed officers opened fire.Just before 1am on Fridayafter a standoff of about 90 minutes, armed officers opened fire.
For officers to open fire lawfully they must have an honest belief that a suspect is threatening someone's life.For officers to open fire lawfully they must have an honest belief that a suspect is threatening someone's life.
Police would not say if officers stormed the house, referring questions about the incident to the IPCC.Police would not say if officers stormed the house, referring questions about the incident to the IPCC.
Basu said the woman, who locals said was younger than the man alleged to have broken into her home, was uninjured but left in shock.Basu said the woman, who locals said was younger than the man alleged to have broken into her home, was uninjured but left in shock.
Police said the suspect died at 1.20am while on his way to hospital. "The man's next of kin have yet to be informed – at this stage all I will confirm is that he is a 40-year-old black man, thought to be born in Islington," Basu said.Police said the suspect died at 1.20am while on his way to hospital. "The man's next of kin have yet to be informed – at this stage all I will confirm is that he is a 40-year-old black man, thought to be born in Islington," Basu said.
Michaela Fox, 38, heard the shots from inside her home 100 yards away. She said she heard five shots. After the first there was a short pause, with the next four being fired in rapid succession: "My neighbour asked if the bangs were fireworks. I said no."Michaela Fox, 38, heard the shots from inside her home 100 yards away. She said she heard five shots. After the first there was a short pause, with the next four being fired in rapid succession: "My neighbour asked if the bangs were fireworks. I said no."
Lyssa Barber, a neighbour who works in the City, said: "I was woken up to shouts and immediately afterwards to what sounded like four or five bangs. They were gunshots. I think I heard five gunshots, but a gunshot in real life doesn't sound like it does on TV. It sounded like loud bangs on a door. Bang, bang, bang. Then I realised, if it's somebody banging on the door, why can I hear it?Lyssa Barber, a neighbour who works in the City, said: "I was woken up to shouts and immediately afterwards to what sounded like four or five bangs. They were gunshots. I think I heard five gunshots, but a gunshot in real life doesn't sound like it does on TV. It sounded like loud bangs on a door. Bang, bang, bang. Then I realised, if it's somebody banging on the door, why can I hear it?
"We saw the ambulance and police. There were eight police vehicles I could see from my window, and I saw five armed officers."We saw the ambulance and police. There were eight police vehicles I could see from my window, and I saw five armed officers.
"The ambulance arrived as I was looking out of my window. Police came out of the house. We could see someone being led away. I'm fairly sure they were wearing pink and had to be supported by officers.""The ambulance arrived as I was looking out of my window. Police came out of the house. We could see someone being led away. I'm fairly sure they were wearing pink and had to be supported by officers."
At the scene forensic examiners continued their work. Witnesses differ in their recall of the number of shots fired, with accounts varying from three to 10.At the scene forensic examiners continued their work. Witnesses differ in their recall of the number of shots fired, with accounts varying from three to 10.