Blair 'must have known' as Menezes death-rumours abounded

The startling speed at which rumours spread across the force that an innocent man had been shot was revealed in the IPCC report.

Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes said it was “unbelievable” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair did not know that an innocent man had been killed that day.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission report issued today describes the speed at which rumours spread across the force that an innocent man had been shot.

Brazilian national Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead at a London tube station in July last year by members of the Metropolitan police who claimed they believed he was a terrorist.

It was later confirmed de Menezes was innocent.

The report published today revealed that the news of the "mistake" reached officers watching a cricket match at Lords within hours of the incident.

Among them was Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, the boss of Commander Cressida Dick, the officer responsible for the botched operation.

Roy Clark, a former IPCC director of investigations, who was also at the cricket, said he “became aware” that a mistake had been made.

Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes said it was “unbelievable” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair did not know that an innocent man had been killed that day.

Mr Blair today has denied that he had known.

Mr de Menezes’ cousin Alessandro Pereira said: “It is unbelievable that Blair did not know, he must have known. If he did not, he was not in control of his officers.”