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Met Police guilty over de Menezes shooting

Jean Charles de Menezes - Shot dead in 2005
Jean Charles de Menezes - Shot dead in 2005

London's Metropolitan Police has been convicted of breaching health and safety laws over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

There have been calls for the resignation of London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair following the verdict, which will see the force pay £500,000 in fines and legal costs.

Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005 after police officers mistook him for a suicide bomber.

The incident came two weeks after 52 people were killed in a series of attacks on the city's public transport system, and one day after another failed attack.

Shortly after the verdict, Len Duvall, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, announced a review of how police handled the situation and expressed full support for police chief Ian Blair.

He said the incident highlighted operational and communication processes that proved to be inadequate when Londoners' lives were put under threat of terrorist attack.

Last year, British prosecutors ruled out bringing criminal charges against the officers who shot the Brazilian electrician, citing insufficient evidence.

That decision prompted outrage from the de Menezes family and their supporters, who accused the police of trying to cover up their mistake, while the Brazilian government also expressed its  disappointment.

The Metropolitan Police had denied breaching health and safety laws during the month-long trial at London's Central Criminal Court. It now faces a fine.