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Menezes family welcomes verdict Resignation calls grow for Blair
(about 2 hours later)
The family of Jean Charles de Menezes have welcomed the verdict that found the Metropolitan Police endangered the public when they shot him dead. Pressure is mounting on Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to resign over the shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.
But they say the police must pay for the mistake which saw the Brazilian shot on a London Tube in 2005 after he was mistaken for a suicide bomber. The force broke health and safety laws when officers pursued Mr Menezes to a Tube station and shot him seven times.
The force's commissioner Sir Ian Blair has refused to resign despite growing political pressure for him to do so. Immediately after the verdict, Sir Ian announced he would remain in the job and was backed by the prime minister.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted he had her "full confidence". But the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said he should take responsibility for the Met's failures.
During the trial, an Old Bailey jury heard that Scotland Yard commanders had made a string of errors on 22 July 2005 that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes. "It was a horrific series of mistakes and he is the person responsible," said shadow attorney-general Dominic Grieve.
On Thursday, the force was found guilty of breaking health and safety laws and fined £175,000 with £385,000 costs. He added that the whole incident was "rather shameful in terms of the competence of the police, that an innocent person should be shot in that fashion, when in fact there was a series of accidents that led up to it, which shouldn't have occurred".
Why did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to killing Met's 19 key failingsWhy did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to killing Met's 19 key failings
Richard Barnes, leader of the London Assembly Conservatives, and a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said he would be pushing to have Sir Ian removed from his post.
"What we can do is have a special meeting of the police authority to discuss this, and I called for that meeting to be called within the next seven days.
"We can then take a vote of confidence if Sir Ian Blair does not accept his responsibilities."
A former senior Met officer, Brian Paddick, told BBC One's Question Time that Sir Ian was wrong to say he would not resign without first taking some time for reflection.
Family reaction
Meanwhile the family of Jean Charles de Menezes in Brazil say the police must pay for their mistake.
The Brazilian was mistaken for a suicide bomber and shot at Stockwell tube station in 2005, the day after failed terror attacks in London.
Mr de Menezes's brother, Giovanni da Silva, told the BBC he was pleased with the outcome of the case but described it as just the start of the family's campaign for justice.
The Brazilian foreign ministry has offered to provide whatever support is needed by the family and said the way had been opened for further action.
Reports to come
During the trial, an Old Bailey jury heard that Scotland Yard commanders had made a string of errors on 22 July 2005 that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes.
Mr Justice Henriques described it as "an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances".Mr Justice Henriques described it as "an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances".
"One person died and many others were placed in potential danger," he said."One person died and many others were placed in potential danger," he said.
Mr de Menezes's brother, Giovanni da Silva, told the BBC he was pleased with the outcome of the case but described it as just the start. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dismissed the calls for Sir Ian's resignation, insisting he had her support, and Downing Street said Prime Minister Gordon Brown continued to have full confidence in Sir Ian.
He said the Metropolitan Police would have to pay for their mistake and what had been done to his brother should not have been done to anyone. After the verdict, the commissioner expressed his "deep regret" over the case but said he would continue to lead the Met.
Inquest A report into the shooting by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is expected soon and an inquest has also to take place.
Gary Duffy, the BBC's Brazil correspondent, said Mr Giovanni went on to say the verdict was the very least that could have happened.
It would show the British and Brazilians living in England that his brother had not been misbehaving, Mr Giovanni said.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian foreign ministry has offered to provide whatever support is needed by the family and said the way had been opened for further action.
HAVE YOUR SAY I hope that lessons have been learned. But I also hope that it will not deter armed police making judgement calls to protect the majority S Whistler, Chelmsford Send us your comments 'I thought we would die'
In the meantime, another report into the shooting by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is still due and an inquest has also to take place.
Some believe these could lead to further calls for Sir Ian to resign.
After the verdict, Sir Ian expressed his "deep regret" over the case but said he would continue to lead the Met.
The case showed no evidence of systematic failure by the force, he added.
Mr Menezes was caught on CCTV as he was followed by two officers
However, both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have called for the commissioner to quit.
One of his own former senior officers, Brian Paddick, told BBC1's Question Time Sir Ian was wrong to say he would not resign without first taking some time for reflection.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the guilty verdict made it more difficult for police to protect the capital against terrorism.Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the guilty verdict made it more difficult for police to protect the capital against terrorism.
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dismissed the calls, insisting Sir Ian had her "full confidence" and support.
Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said the MPA fully supported Sir Ian and would continue to work with him.