Brazilian officials in London for shooting inquiry

Brazilian officials arrived here Monday to conduct an inquiry into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician shot dead by police in London's subway system.

Two government representatives are expected to meet with senior members of the London police commission investigating the death of de Menezes, Sky news reported.

De Menezes was shot on July 22 at the Stockwell Tube station in south London, after he was allegedly mistaken as a suspect in the abortive July 21 bombings.

Prime Minister Tony Blair supported Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair following calls by members of the victim's family for him to resign.

The Brazilian officials will meet representatives of the Independent Police Complaints Commission to get "a number of matters clarified," a spokesman for Brazil's foreign ministry said.

He added they would be asking questions about de Menezes' death and Scotland Yard's response to the killing, which was reportedly seven shots to the head and one shot to the shoulder.

When news leaked that de Menezes was not wearing a bulging clothes and jumping a tube station barricade, as police previously claimed, de Menezes' family and the Brazilian public was outraged.

Meanwhile, members of the electrician's family will hold a demonstration and vigil outside Downing Street on Monday evening.

They are to hand in a letter to Tony Blair calling for a public inquiry into the shooting case.

Source: Xinhua