Officer who shot Jean Charles de Menezes was convinced ‘we were going to die’

A constabulary marksman who changeable a antheral wrongly suspected of being a violent aft the 7/7 London bombings said helium was definite “we were going to die” if helium did not act.

Jean Charles de Menezes was killed a fortnight aft termination bombers exploded devices connected 3 Tube lines and a London autobus connected July 7 2005, sidesplitting 52 people.

The firearms officer, who has remained anonymous for astir 20 years, has spoken publically astir his actions for the archetypal clip arsenic portion of Channel 4’s Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube documentary.

He said Mr de Menezes’ demeanour having been identified arsenic a fishy led him to judge the Brazilian nationalist was astir to detonate a bomb.

“Reliving it successful this item is painful,” the serviceman said.

“I privation to marque definite that radical recognize these decisions, though they’re taken quickly, they’re not taken lightly.

“Because of his actions, what helium did, the accusation we received, it near maine with nary different decision than I had to enactment oregon we were going to die.”

Would-be termination bombers targeted the transport web again connected July 21, but their devices failed to explode.

The pursuing time Mr de Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, was mistaken for 1 of the suspects due to the fact that they were linked to the aforesaid artifact of flats.

He was changeable 7 times by 2 marksmen astatine Stockwell Tube station, southbound London, aft officers followed him onto the bid carriage.

The firearms officer, known lone arsenic C12, said the mode Mr De Menezes stood up had “triggered” thing successful his head.

“He knew who we were. He inactive continued connected his guardant momentum arsenic I had my limb up, pointing astatine his head,” helium recalled.

“I retrieve the surveillance serviceman past successful afloat assemblage interaction with him, and seemingly what helium was trying to bash was pin his hands truthful that helium couldn’t detonate.

“I’m expecting an detonation astatine immoderate moment, he’s gonna blow. We’re gonna die. But that’s the nub of it.

“If I don’t bash thing now, we are each going to die.”

On July 23, Scotland Yard confirmed Mr de Menezes was not connected to the July 21 attacks.

Dame Cressida Dick, who was promoted to Metropolitan Police commissioner successful 2017, led the cognition successful which Mr de Menezes died.

A assemblage cleared her of immoderate blasted successful his decease astatine the extremity of the prosecution of the Met nether wellness and information laws.

Sir Tony Blair, who was premier curate astatine the time, recalled helium was successful a bilateral gathering with the Chinese president erstwhile helium received quality of the 7/7 bombings.

“I got handed a portion of insubstantial saying there’d been a bid of incidents connected the London Underground,” helium said.

“At that clip I didn’t person immoderate much accusation astir it. The infinitesimal you get passed a enactment similar that, you expect the worst.”

Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube volition aerial connected November 10 and 11 connected Channel 4.