Police shoot suspect....................er why? (page 13)

talesin

I've been reading this thread since it started. On the day of the shooting (was it only yesterday, or the day before?), I saw the eyewitness on camera twice, telling his story ,,,

He seemed to be in shock. He saw plain clothes police chase a man down, and the man tripped. They caught him, one held him down, and one executed him. His face said it all. The horror of what had happened in his city, he couldn't believe it.

I have not seen today's news, but have read the accounts on this thread. It seems to me that the terrorists must be very happy tonight, and that is my main concern. Not in placing blame per se, but in trying to learn something from this tragedy.

I do not think the police had bad intent, but they did panic. That is obvious. As someone said, a 'block of flats' can mean a lot of things in London. Unlike here, where 'flats' means a max of 3 stories in an old Victorian building. For us Canadians, and I would guess, Americans, it explains a lot if we realize that could be quite a good-size apartment complex, not 'flats' as we know them here.

He was Brazilian (well, the coat could make sense, as it's very hot in some of that country), was being chased by armed men (not in uniform), perhaps did not speak the language ... maybe he was fleeing a drug lord in his country? maybe he was a political refugee? I'm sure we will learn more facts as time goes by ... *sigh*

Yes, questions need to be asked, and the police need to realize that they must not show fear. This kind of incident is just what the terrorists revel in! They need to be cool ... cold. These were special forces? Hmm, I doubt it. If so, they should be sanctioned for their premature actions. Law enforcement must take the lead in correcting this or the panic will spread to the public, especially with the media pumping it for all it's worth ... I also saw police interrogating quite a few people of colour during the first few hours (regular programming was interrupted, and we had continuous coverage) .. it was disturbing to see them spread-eagled, etc... and no whites. (I know, I know, there is a reason for it, [if it is indeed al queda] but it still creeps me out!)

This man's family! Let's all take a moment for him/them shall we?

t

kgfreeperson

I think that fits in category one, no?

talesin

lol ... man, that label really itches my skin ...

talesin

I have gone back and read your thoughts, and you forgot to throw in a huge does of # 3. That is why I chose to wait out my gut reaction, and see what the facts were before I expressed any thoughts on the matter. As I said, we will learn more details, to be sure.

t

katiekitten

ISP - I am not ashamed of my views, even though it turns out they were wrong.

I didnt shoot they guy. I merely thought that the police might have a reason to shoot him and not no reason at all. I still dont think they had no reason at all, but I do think it was a terrible mistake. Yes they were trigger happy as it turns out. But trigger happy for no reason? WE ARE BEING BOMBED.

But this man managed to have enough about him to get into our country (buy a ticket, have a passpost, get on a plane, navigate through an airport, find his way through a city, get a place to live, feed himself, clothe himself) but he had NO IDEA that the underground was on bomb alert? That running when confronted by armed men on the underground is a bad idea? What is he blind, deaf and dumb? Ive had guns pointed at me in France for christsakes at the train station in Disneyland Paris when I had my 3 year old daughter with me. I didnt run, and vault the barrier and leap onto the Eurostar.

Please remember that we are one of the few countries that will spend lots of money having a full investigation into this. In many other countries you could get shot by the armed forces for doing the wrong thing and its just a casualty of war. In Iraq the many of the soldiers dont even bother to learn a few basic iraqi words, but they still expect iraqi people to do exactly what they shout at them, and they shoot them if they dont.

Ive seen footage of soldiers shouting "GET DOWN, MOVE BACK" in english, and waving their guns, and the women and children looking totally bemused, having no idea what they are supposed to do, BUT THEY STILL GET SHOT if they dont do it.

So you were right ISP. The police are brutal stupid killers, who shoot to kill for no reason whatsoever. Well, now that we know that we can modify our behaviour to make sure we dont get shot by accident. I know I will stop vaulting pay barriers from now on.

Simon

The mentality of some people frankly amazes me and beggars belief.

You cannot excuse the authorities executing innocent people !!

Christ, since when do we take our policing clues from the Americans or Israelis?

The facts are clear. He was followed be some people he did not know when he was going about his lawful business, just going to work.

They started chasing him and, I guarantee, did NOT identify themselves as police. How do I know this? Because other things the police are saying is that they do not have to identify themselves and the 'rules' they have allow them to shoot first.

The poor guy was scared and did what anyone else would have done. Ran.

He was plainly not a threat and had been overpowered even if he was ... but then executed in cold blood.

As far as I am concerned the people who did this committed murder.

On the bigger scale of things though this is Bush and Blair's fault. The idiots who started this whole mess and have now, it seems, manages to bring the chaos they created in Iraq onto our own streets.

I wonder if the people who want to excuse things would have quite the same attitude if it was them or their friend or family member who was murdered?

All the excuses made are just one big load of bullshit. "He was wearing a big coat in July". Hey, get a frriggin clue - look at the people interviewed ... lots were wearing big coats. It was a cold day. He was Brazilian and probably found it colder than most.

But hey, haven forbid anyone question the crusade of Bush and Blair and the chaos they create eh? I vote for sending the pair of them to personally sort things out in Iraq. At least it would put an end to things.

katiekitten

Im not excusing the police. I just find it hard to believe they would murder someone for no reason. And of course they will be brought to account, although probably not tried for murder im guessing.

Of course I would be unbeleivably distraught if the guy was my relative. I am constantly distraught at all the thousands of children that die every day around the world from terrible injustices. I could cry now thinking about south american street children who live in pipes to hide from the police who shoot them to clean up the streets.

I have cried in class talking about the children working right now in factories being beaten and chained up making Nike footballs and other goods we buy.

This was an injustice that happened to one man. It doesnt excuse it, it doesnt mean we have to lower ourselves to the standards of less civilised countries, but there is some kind of perspective. We only seem to care about life and death when it is very close to home.

katiekitten

BTW im sorry my attitude beggars your belief.

If it helps you put me into perspective a bit more, I am not totally pro the establishment in a conservative non thinking way.

I joined the Amnesty International a couple of years ago - we write to government ministers and prime ministers regarding specific human rights violations against individuals, and are usually successful in obtaining more humane treatment for political prisoners and people who have been unlawfully detained and/or tortured.

Pole

What is strange is that some eywitnesses immediately described de Menezes as "an Asian-looking guy" which kind of illustrates the current psychosis.
The guy's picture:
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41336000/jpg/_41336857_menezes203.jpg
Pole

Gozz

This is a tragedy; sigh.

But murder it's not. The investigation should reveal why this man ran. Running was a huge mistake. Big mistake. I'd think if men in plainclothes ask you to stop, you'd stop. He ran. He was innocent; but he ran, into a train. The only smelling shit is that of those blaming the Police.

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Police shoot suspect....................er why?

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