Britain 'regrets' Brazilian killing

  |   July 24, 2005 at 11:59 AM
LONDON, July 24 (UPI) -- British officials expressed regret for the accidental police killing of a Brazilian man mistakenly thought to be a suspect in earlier London bombings.

Brazilian authorities were angered by the killing. Foreign Minister Celso Amorim released a statement saying the government was "shocked and perplexed" by the incident, O Globo newspaper reported Sunday.

Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was shot and killed by police following him from his home to a subway station thinking he was a suspect in the bombings. When authorities tried to stop him, Menezes fled, prompting police to open fire. Police have since admitted he was in no way connected to the bombings.

"This is a tragedy. The Metropolitan Police accepts full responsibility for this," said police chief Sir Ian Blair. "To the family I can only express my deep regrets."

Amorim is currently in London to investigate the killing firsthand.
