London cops may face charges

2005-12-09 21:28

London - An independent investigation into the London police shooting of a Brazilian man mistaken for a bomber may lead to charges against officers, a commission official said on Friday.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot seven times in the head by undercover officers on July 22, a day after four failed attempts to bomb London's transport system.

On July 7, a suicide attack on the subway and bus system killed 56 people, including the four bombers.

Police have acknowledged that Menezes was killed by mistake.

It was likely that the inquiry's report would be forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether to prosecute, Independent Police Complaints Commission chairman Nick Hardwick said.

He said the commission had not reached a conclusion on whether any criminal offences may have taken place. Such a judgment, he added, would be a "lower threshold" than the standard prosecutors would apply in making a final decision.

"I think it will meet that lower threshold. I do not give a complete guarantee of that," Hardwick said.

- AP