COP SHOT DEAD IN TRAINING BLUNDER; ..but why were they using live ammo?Byline: BY ANDREW GREGORY A POLICEMAN was shot dead yesterday when a firearms exercise went wrong. The officer who died in hospital after being hit in the chest was last night named as Ian Terry, 32. The tragedy raised immediate questions about why live ammunition was used and comes days after the Mirror highlighted a catalogue of armed police blunders. It happened close to a residential area and with civilians working nearby. Last night Ian's wife Joanne, brother and parents were being comforted by other relatives. Greater Manchester Police acting chief constable Noun 1. Chief Constable - the head of the police force in a county (or similar area) Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; Dave Whatton paid tribute: "Our thoughts are with Ian's family and friends. He was a well respected officer." The shooting at a disused electronics plant in Newton Heath, Manchester, will be probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Mr Whatton said earlier: "Shortly after 11.30am a firearms exercise was taking place in a disused factory site away from any members of the public. "The exercise involved experienced firearms officers. During it a police officer was killed." Ian's neighbours in Burnley, Lancs, hugged after hearing of his death. Witnesses at North Manchester General Hospital North Manchester General Hospital is a large NHS hospital located in Crumpsall in the north of the English city of Manchester. It is operated as part of the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. said his colleagues wept at the news. A fleet of patrol cars had followed the ambulance carrying their pal. Police are thought to have used special ammunition in a role-playing exercise to rehearse dealing with getaway drivers. Leon Willis, 26, working opposite the former distribution centre for electronics giant Sharp, said: "We heard a bang and emergency services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' went past in droves." Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told MPs: "This demonstrates the dangers police officers face on our behalf." The Mirror last week revealed armed police have fired their guns more times by mistake than in the line of duty In the Line of Duty may refer to:
CAPTION(S): FACTS Our story on gun mistakes; PROBE Forensics officers at scene of shooting yesterday; EXAMINATION Cars used in yesterday's exercise |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion