I just don't care

[andrewducker]

Police shot a main on the underground a few days ago.

He was not, apparently, a terrorist.

However, according to a BBC News article the following is what occurred:

1: Jean Charles de Menezes leaves a house under surveillance and arrives at Stockwell station
2: Witnesses say he vaults the automatic ticket barriers and heads for the platforms
3: He then ran down an escalator after being approached by up to 20 plain-clothed police officers and tried to board a train
4: He apparently refuses to obey police instructions and after running onto a northbound Northern line train, he is shot dead

I don't give a damn if he was innocent - if, the week after bombs go off, you vault the barriers, flee from the police and then try to get on a train, I want the police to assume you _are_ carrying a bomb and shoot you repeatedly until you're most definitely not a threat.

Because next time it might well be someone who has one.

Edit: I'd just like to make it clear that my mind is not entirely made up until the results of the enquiry come out. If it turns out they weren't actually police (as some people have said), or didn't tell him to stop, or some other fact comes out, I'm reserving the right to change my mind. I'm currently going on what the BBC is reporting.

Comments

[aberbotimue.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to avoid this whole issue.. but I am in 100% agreement with you...

This is exactly the reason our police give warning of iminent lead pousening.. He didn't stop, Infact, he did worse and ran for an enclosed place, where you would not be escaping from, unless you are very lucky with the timing of doors and departing trains...

There are many that have said " what would you have done" if 20 or so people with guns all shouting "Armed police, stop" - I'd stop..

and spread out like the bigest defencless Nathan I could muster.. not run, like a scared rabit...

* and breath *

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I don't think that we have enough information to "not care" yet.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Particularly considering reports that they actually didn't say "police, stop", and possibly that they weren't in fact police.

[aberbotimue.livejournal.com]

The police steatment said they were.. so thats unlikly not to be police, unless you are meaning sas, or mi5 etc, but then, They act on our ground, as police, so I don't think i'm against that..

as for saying they were, all the BBc and sky news, with witness steatments all said they were making the fact they were armed police, very vocal, is enough for me to make my call on it..

If they turn out to be other, then I'll re think.. but on the avalable info, which is kinda likly at this stage of the game, I'm all for my previouse steatment.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Do you have any evidence that the police identified as such or told him to stop?

Because otherwise, we have:

Ordinary person going about their business suddenly finds a man, or several men, drawing a gun on him for no particular reason. Runs away, which admittedly might be a poor choice.