KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Officers who took part in the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes were involved in another police operation this week in which a man was shot dead, police said today.
The comments came after the Daily Mail reported that one of the marksmen who opened fire on de Menezes also shot an armed robber in the operation at a building society in Kent on Tuesday night.
"The specialist firearms team (CO19) involved in the Flying Squad operation in Kent did include officers from the same team who were involved in the Stockwell shooting in July last year," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
De Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, was shot dead in July 2005 after being mistaken for a suicide bomber at Stockwell subway station in south London.
A police spokesman declined to comment on whether one of the officers who fired at the Brazilian also shot the unnamed man.
The Daily Mail, citing police sources, said one of the marksmen had been taking part in the Kent operation to prevent a building society robbery when he shot and wounded the man, who later died in hospital.
Police said an investigation was being conducted into what happened during the operation in which three other men were arrested. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also launched an inquiry.
The de Menezes shooting triggered a barrage of criticism against the police, in particular London police chief Ian Blair.
Next October, the Metropolitan Police is due to stand trial on health and safety charges over the killing.
- REUTERS
