I have sat out on these arguments for SO long and tried not to react, but I just can't contain myself this time...
Jim: The facts as we now know them are very different from those first published. If what we had been led to believe was true, I would have supported the police in their actions 110%. We were told that he was wearing a "puffa jacket" possibly containing a bomb, that he ran and jumped barriers at the station, and so on.
It turns out this is all lies. He was only wearing a light denim jacket, strolled down the escalator, picked up a newspaper on his way and then, and only then, ran to catch the tube train.
Anyone who's ever been familiar with catching a tube train will identify with that.
It would seem that the knives are out because he was working here illegally. MAKE NO MISTAKE on my opinion of this subject:
Anyone working here illegally should be INVESTIGATED AND SENT HOME if appropriate. But shot dead? Get real. I pride myself on living in a fair and humanitarian democracy, and this is not it.
I fear that the police now think they have powers above their station. Whether this guy was working here illegally or not, for the crime he was suspected of, HE WAS INNOCENT.
Therefore I for one absolutely agree with an independant inquiry, and the officers in question (or those giving the orders), should be brought to book.