'Shoot to kill' policy spreads fear
2005-07-22 15:40
London - British Muslims said they feared police were operating under a "shoot to kill" policy after a man was gunned down at an Underground train station Friday following a new wave of bomb attacks.
The Muslim Council of Britain called on police to explain why the Asian man, reported as a "suspected suicide bomber" by Sky News, was shot dead at Stockwell station in south London.
Police have confirmed that officers pursued and shot a man who was pronounced dead at the scene, but have offered no explanation for the shooting.
The incident came a day after another apparent wave of would-be suicide bombers hit London's mass transport system, two weeks after four suspected Islamists blew themselves up on trains and a bus, killing 56 people.
No one was injured in Thursday's attacks after the bombs apparently failed to go off.
A Muslim Council spokesman said Muslims were "jumpy and nervous" and feared reprisal attacks.
'What if I was carrying a rucksack?'
"I have just had one phone call saying 'What if I was carrying a rucksack?'," said Inayat Bunglawala, referring to the rucksack bombs used in the London attacks.
"It's vital the police give a statement about what occurred (at Stockwell) and explain why the man was shot dead," Bunglawala said.
"We are getting phone calls from quite a lot of Muslims who are distressed about what may be a shoot-to-kill policy."
Stockwell is one stop south of Oval station, one of three Underground stops targeted on Thursday, together with a double-decker bus.
Witnesses told Sky News that police shot the man five times at close range after shouting at him to stop.
Reasons need to be made clear
"There may well be reasons why the police felt it necessary to unload five shots into the man and shoot him dead, but they need to make those reasons clear," Bunglawala said.
Police on Friday sealed off the home of a Muslim convert identified as one of the suspected July 7 suicide bombers after a suspected attempt to burn the building.
Officers were called to Germaine Lindsay's home in Aylesbury, a town just outside London, shortly after 06:30 after reports of a strong smell of petrol in the street, officers said.
- AFP