O/T today I learnt...

[Blatman]

Yup. He legged it in to the station *after* being told to stop by several armed cops.

He apparently spoke good English, so he doesn't appear to have any language barrier preventing him from knowing what's been going on in London for the past 3 weeks.

And whilst I broadly agree with Guy, for all the cops knew, he had a remote detonator or some sort of failsafe switch which would, given half a chance, activate a devastating explosion. If a person has decided that he will die by blowing himself up, you have to be *sure* that ain't gonna take anyone with him when you decide to fire a warning shot in to a kneecap. IMO, there is only one way to be *sure* he ain't gonna pull the ripcord, so to speak, and that's to make damn sure he is totally incapable. A warning shot, or a shoot to injure just won't cut it. The Police have a shoot to kill policy, and I'm all in favour.

[Vinny's Westie]

Just because he was here on an expired visa doesn't give the police the right to shoot.

It is difficult to understand the man's reasons for running, but do remember the people chasing him were dressed in plain clothes and he could have been concerned for his own safety.    

When he was shot his arms were extended and the Police pounced on top of him holding him down so the reasons for shooting a man become less clear.

If as said he was followed previously why was he left on his own from his house to the station, something does not add up.

A shoot to kill policy is never right when you kill an innocent man, but that line is one I would not want to have to cross.

It's a tough call, but we have played into the enemies hands and that is not the way to go.

Illegal immigrant or what, it does not matter, the State should have checked their records and done something about it beforehand.

"Rant over"

My sympathy is with his family, we all failed him.

[Mark Stanton]

Just because he was here on an expired visa doesn't give the police the right to shoot.

With all due respect he wasn't shot because of that.................. its another issue.

the State should have checked their records and done something about it beforehand.

Very true, let us hope that there is a concerted effort to undertake a thorough check and take appropriate action as necessary    

we all failed him.

Why don't include me - he was in the country, understood english and was aware of recent bombings - tough call ............................ but sometimes life is like that and you gotta do what is expected, if other lives appear at risk  

[Impney]

IMO going into the underground forced the cops hand. Damned if they didn't take him out and he was a bomber, now damned for taking an innocent (allegedly) life. My vote goes with the bloke who made the correct call.

(only a little with him lying face down and 3 coppers on his back)

If he was a bomber then they would have been killed. Are they not just as innocent?

the State should have checked their records and done something about it beforehand.

As this bloke was an illegal , there were no real records to check.

the people chasing him were dressed in plain clothes

So an unmarked police car can be ignored? Don't think that would wash as a defence argument.

Why did he run? Why did he not just stop when challenged? He was aware of the incidents on July 7th and therefore must have been aware of the increased security and nervouness.

Tough call, but the right one.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

If you run from a copper, he will assume you're guilty, if you run from an armed copper, you would know, particularly being from South America, that you're likely to be in big trouble.

Sorry, I have every sympathy for the family, but if you decide to run from the Police you're going to have to shoulder some of the "blame".

My niece was in the next bus back from the one that exploded, and ended up in the middle of the carnage, thankfully she's physically OK now. But I sure wish someone had been able to take down the first batch of bombers.

[darthurs]

I totally agree with what Blatman has said.

Dan

[steve_m]

Why don't include me - he was in the country, understood english and was aware of recent bombings - tough call ............................ but sometimes life is like that and you gotta do what is expected, if other lives appear at risk  

  It's a sad situation but I don't think the armed officers had much choice.  If he had been a bomber and another 10 people had been killed and it had been known he was being followed by the police and they did nothing, there would be riots.

[darthurs]

If you don't want to be shot, cooperate with the person who has the gun. Regardless of who there are, if someone is pointing a gun at you and tell you to jump, you ask how high.

Dan

[Barry Ashcroft]

With you on this one Blatters.

Sad but neccessary.

[Lurksalot]

well OK

In hindsight this one may be dubious but

I've just had to pay a speeding fine and if that pays for a few more bullets, just in case , then I don't feel so bad

[Blatman]

Heard from a security expert (ex SAS, I suspect) here at work. There has been some talk that the police used so called "low velocity" weapons, so in essence they *may* not be effective on their own. IE, you need to fire more than 1...

Also heard that during a stand off like we had in W10 this afternoon, if snipers are used, each target is assigned two snipers so that one sniper *should* be able to get a head shot off...

If as said he was followed previously why was he left on his own from his house to the station, something does not add up.

He was challenged well before he got to the station. He *chose* to run there after he was challenged. Unlike Hollywood police, the real police won't run down a crowded public street firing in the general direction of a suspect who is intent on escaping...

[Boomy]

Not exactly related to the way this thread has gone, but i learnt today never to come home and sit bare chested while eating a pot noodle with a fork while leaning against a sofa bed watching a film.

They take skill to eat without making a mess and more than a few times it felt as though Mount Etna itself had errupted on my chest.

Ok..you can carry on now, nothing to see here  

[Peter Cox]

...that my local bits and pieces shop is actually fallible

...that my cats don't like the taste of frog

...that the £3.99 knight's mask I bought from Legoland will be great for a Batman fancy dress costume

...that Lloyd Grossman soup sachets don't necessarily remain upright when microwaved

...that your ileum looks huge when viewed through fibre-optic cable

[Peter Cox]

...that it's best to keep your paintbrush lower than your hand, arm and face when ageing new brickwork using a cow****/stagnant pond water slurry mix

...that it's best to warn others that you may be working around corners/ above doors when ageing new brickwork using a cow****/stagnant pond water slurry mix

...that leek and potato soup is best prepared by steaming, rather than boiling, the vegetables

...never to rely on BBCi when laying a bet with your 8yo daughter

...an amazingly small amount of roof moss can block a downpipe

...the way to get my 3yo son to take a p*** before bedtime is to bet him you can finish p******** quicker than he can

...that "GYNOTIKOLOBOMASSOPHILE" exists (or, at least, used to).

[Peter Cox]

...that the gents toilet's cubicles at my workplace are a great place for hand shadow puppets

...that "STREAMS" has only one complete, single-word, anagram, "MASTERS" (unless there's a smart A*** watching)*

...that you can apply for planning permission online, but only up to page 3 of application part 1, when it falls over with a Java error

...that August is a very expensive month in my family for greetings cards

...that I'm not sure if truly "comfortable" cars exist

...that I'm crap at making hand shadow puppets (the best I got was "bloke with big lips screaming while being shot from cannon")

* amazing what you'll do when bored in a meeting