British police involved in the fatal shooting of an innocent Brazilian man they thought was a suicide bomber might face criminal action, an independent watchdog said today.
The chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), Nick Hardwick, said it was "likely" that its independent inquiry report into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes by anti-terror officers would be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a decision over whether police officers involved should be charged.
He also revealed today that his investigators have not interviewed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair during their inquiry into the fatal shooting of Mr de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22nd.
Mr Hardwick refused to confirm whether a statement had been taken from him.
Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head by anti-terror officers after being mistaken for a suicide bomber the day after the failed July 21st alleged bomb attacks.
Mr Hardwick said the IPCC had to decide whether its findings indicated that criminal offences may have taken place.
This was a lower threshold than for the CPS, which would then have to decide whether to bring actual charges against any of the Scotland Yard officers involved in the operation, he explained.
The IPCC would not detail the nature of the alleged offences the CPS could potentially have to consider, although it is believed they could include offences as serious as murder or manslaughter.