'unfortunate'

[mrph]

"A man shot dead by police hunting the bombers behind Thursday's London attacks was unconnected to the incidents, police have confirmed.

A Scotland Yard statement said the shooting was a "tragedy" which was regretted by the Metropolitan Police."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4711021.stm

From the initial news report on the shooting, the eyewitness description:

"One of them was carrying a black handgun - it looked like an automatic - they pushed him to the floor, bundled on top of him and unloaded five shots into him"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4706787.stm

Combine the two and you've got a very unfortunate PR incident for the police. And a tragedy for the poor bastard they shot and his family, of course.

Comments

[jorune.livejournal.com]

Yes this is an awful moment for the policeman's wider family and colleagues but five shots to the head?

It seems to me that this is a case of poor impulse control, as if the chap was running on automatic pilot and discovered to his shock and total horror that there were unexpected actions that his mind/body were commiting.

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

The reason for shots to the head is because of the possibility of accidentally setting off explosives strapped to the body. I'm not trying to justify anything, as this is terrible, but that is the reason.

[lougarry.livejournal.com]

low velocity bullets as well apparently.