Fatal police shooting of a terrorist attacker – City of London Police and Metropolitan Police Service, November 2019
On 29 November 2019, a Registered Terrorist Offender (RTO) travelled to London and killed two people and injured three others. He had been released from prison in December 2018. The RTO was fatally shot by police officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police. A total of 20 shots were fired by six different police officers.
Our investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of the RTO. We reviewed relevant CCTV footage and body worn video footage. We analysed and reviewed the radio transmissions and statements of both the officers involved and members of the public. We also reviewed statements from firearms instructors, explosives experts and a firearms expert. We compared the actions of the officers to relevant legislation, policing policies and training.
We found no indication that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings by using force that was unnecessary, disproportionate or unreasonable in the circumstances. We advised one officer may benefit from a reminder about the risk of Taser use when there is a suspected Improvised Explosive Device. We are of the opinion the officers had no other reasonable option but to shoot the RTO to immediately incapacitate him. We concluded that officers did what they honestly and instinctively thought was necessary for the legitimate purpose of their own defence and to prevent crimes being committed against others.
We shared our findings with both the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police. In our opinion neither force was required to make determinations because we were satisfied the report did not raise any performance issues.
Throughout the investigation, we carefully considered whether there were any opportunities for learning or improvement. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
In February 2020, we attended a meeting with the senior leadership team for National Police Chiefs’ Council armed policing. This resulted in revisions to the Authorised Professional Practice for armed policing, the development of a training package for delivery to all Authorised Firearm Officers that focused on Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and the associated considerations, challenges, and options. The annual firearms command and tactical advisor package was also finalised. Learning points were identified at a debrief with key police witnesses. These were addressed by both the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police. We therefore decided it was not necessary to issue learning recommendations.
We waited until inquests were concluded in June 2021 before publishing any outcomes. The inquest determined that the RTO was lawfully killed by police.