Brazilian shot eight times
2005-07-25 18:49
London - A Brazilian man mistakenly killed by anti-terrorist police was shot eight times, Britain's independent police complaints commission said on Monday.
An inquest opened on Monday into the death of electrician Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, shot dead inside a subway station on Friday by officers who mistook him for a potential suicide bomber.
Witnesses had previously said they thought he was shot five times.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday he was "desperately sorry " about the killing, but said the police were working in "very, very difficult circumstances".
Menezes' family has threatened to take legal action.
"They have to pay for that in many ways, because if they do not, they are going to kill many people," his cousin, Alex Pereira, told BBC television.
"They killed my cousin; they could kill anyone."
- AP