Police shot Brazilian man on Tube eight times
Mr de Menezes, 27, died on Friday, the day after the failed suicide bombings on London’s transport network.
Details of how he died were confirmed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
An inquest, which was opened into his death yesterday at Southwark Coroner’s Court, heard that he was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder.
Speaking at a press conference in central London, IPCC chair Nick Hardwick confirmed that the commission had begun an independent investigation into the shooting.
Mr Hardwick urged people not to rush to judgements over the shooting at Stockwell tube station.
“Firearms officers have a unique and awesome responsibility. I believe they and the public accept they must be accountable for how they exercise that responsibility,” he said.
Mr Hardwick confirmed that the officers involved in the shooting had already given an account of what happened, but said they could be interviewed by the IPCC team in the future.
Arrangements are being made so that the victim’s family can be kept up to date with the investigation’s progress.
Mr de Menezes was mistakenly shot dead after being pursued by plain clothes police officers as he tried to board a train at the station.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair had initially said the shooting was “directly linked” to anti-terror operations.
But detectives later established he was not connected to attempts to blow up three Underground trains and a bus in the capital.
He had emerged from a nearby house that was under surveillance because of a suspected link to last Thursday’s failed bomb attacks.
His clothing and behaviour was said to have added to the officers’ suspicions. Mr Menezes was on his way to a job when he was shot.
He left his flat in Scotia Road and took the number 2 bus to Stockwell Tube station where he was challenged by officers, who told him to stop.
Witnesses reported he jumped over the ticket barriers and bolted down an escalator, looking like a “petrified rabbit”, pursued by the police.
It appears he tried to board a train before being repeatedly shot. It is not known why Mr de Menezes did not stop when he was challenged by officers at Stockwell Tube station.
It was claimed yesterday he had been in Britain on an out-of-date visa.
Reports said the electrician had come to Britain on a student visa, which allows people to work for a small number of hours.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was desperately sorry for the death of Mr de Menezes, but told a Downing Street news conference the police were working in very difficult circumstances.
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