Posted on 07/24/2005 3:31:09 AM PDT by Hadean
Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Ian Blair today admitted further people could be shot as detectives hunt down the would-be suicide bombers who tried to bring further carnage to London last week.
His comments followed the fatal shooting of innocent Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, who was killed by undercover police officers on Friday morning as he tried to board a Tube train at Stockwell, south London.
Sir Ian admitted there was a “shoot-to-kill policy” for tackling suicide bombers and it would not change, although the death of Mr de Menezes was a “tragedy”.
“Somebody else could be shot. But everything is done to make it right,” Sir Ian told Sunday with Adam Boulton on Sky News.
“This is a terrifying set of circumstances for individuals to make decisions.”
Sir Ian defended the actions of his officers, saying: ``What we have got to recognise is that people are taking incredibly difficult fast time decisions in life threatening situations.
“It wasn’t just a random event and what’s most important to recognise is that it’s still happening out there.
“There are still officers out there having to make those calls as we speak.”
He said Mr de Menezes had emerged from a “not very large” block of flats which had been under surveillance before he was followed to Stockwell station.
The shoot-to-kill procedures for dealing with suicide bombers would remain in place.
“They have to be that because there is no point in shooting at someone’s chest because that is where the bomb is likely to be,” he said.
“There is no point in shooting anywhere else if they fall down and detonate it.
“It is drawn from experience from other countries, including Sri Lanka. The only way to deal with this is to shoot to the head.”
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingnews.ie ...
Good point. LOL
Not jumping the subway turnstile and and stopping when ordered to do so by the police who identified themselves as being armed would be a good start ;-)
Good to see common sense prevail.
Don't wear a deersuite in a forest full of hunters.
When British police say "stop", it may just be a good idea to do so.
The British people can be mean and brutal, and it is that ancient Briton which much be brought out if they have any hope of destroying the Muslim menace.
My guess is that an arms up, palms exposed stance while standing still would mean something different to British Police than jumping turnstiles and fleeing would.
It may be a good idea not to wear heavy padded coats in a heat wave, too.
In fact, maybe everyone ought to study "You May Be A Suicide Bomber If..." and take very special care not to fit this profile.
Another thought -- how about transparent backpacks? I know there are such things, as many factories and large department stores will not let their employees carry anything they can't see through.
In a society overcome by fear and anger from these barbaric acts, everyone should be smart enough to obey police officers' commands INSTANTLY in a subway setting. You either freeze and await instructions or you die.
I still don't understand why this guy was supposedly running from police. The more I read, the less I get it. More info here.......
http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/07/24/story213149.html
Yet another reason for foreigners to learn English.
Probably the for the same reason this country hasn't been able to have their agents infiltrate radical Muslim groups here. It's pretty difficult to do. First, you have to find Muslims that are willing to put themselves in that situation, and if you think it's hard to find a Muslim to speak out against the terrorists, try and find one who'll infiltrate and work as a spy. Look at the problems this country has had with Muslims in our military. Your suggestion is poor to say the least. And how do you know that the public as a whole thinks Scotland Yard is full of incompetents? That's only your feeling on the matter. It's doesn't make it so.
Agreed! Can you imagine if this tragic mistake happened in the US, the PC dims would go crazy! Ya really gotta hand it to the Brits though, they're getting the job done.
He new English very well, so that wasn't an issue.
BBC
Doctors are calling for a ban on long pointed kitchen knives to reduce deaths from stabbing.
A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings.
They argued many assaults are committed impulsively, prompted by alcohol and drugs, and a kitchen knife often makes an all too available weapon.
The research is published in the British Medical Journal.
The researchers said there was no reason for long pointed knives to be publicly available at all.
They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen.
None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed.
The researchers said a short pointed knife may cause a substantial superficial wound if used in an assault - but is unlikely to penetrate to inner organs.
In contrast, a pointed long blade pierces the body like “cutting into a ripe melon”.
My understanding is that these guys were a special unit trained in techniques of dealing with suicidal bombers by the Israelis.
Actually, I think summary executions would be a good thing in this case.
The problem with the opinions expressed in that article is that it does not coincide with multiple eye witness accounts from civilians that had actually seen the Brazilian running from the police. Although it is questionable as to why this individual was not approached before boarding the bus.
This shoot to kill is stupid.
Mark my words.... The next suicide bomber will be equipped with a dead man switch. He dies and the bomb goes anyway.
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