Source of leak on tube shooting found

BRITAIN: The person who leaked information about the police watchdog's investigation into the death in London of Jean Charles…

BRITAIN: The person who leaked information about the police watchdog's investigation into the death in London of Jean Charles de Menezes has been identified, it was reported last night.

The source who leaked documents and a photograph of Mr de Menezes lying dead on the floor of a tube train at Stockwell station to ITV News on Tuesday has been suspended, Sky News reported.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission refused to confirm or deny the report.

Spokesman David Nicholson said in a statement: "Our focus is on the search for the truth about the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. Both the IPCC and the Metropolitan Police Service recognise that the unauthorised disclosure of information cannot be ignored and must be addressed.

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"In response to media speculation on IPCC staffing issues, we do not comment on personnel matters. We will not be distracted from our thorough, professional and impartial investigation into the death of Mr de Menezes."

On Tuesday, the IPCC documents were leaked to ITV News, raising concerns about the accuracy of previous accounts of the events leading up to the fatal shooting.

Initial accounts suggested that Mr de Menezes had fled from armed officers by vaulting over barriers before stumbling on to an underground train, where the officers opened fire.

However, according to documents obtained by ITV News, the Brazilian entered the station at a normal walking pace and even picked up a free copy of the Metro newspaper.

The leaked report also indicated that he was wearing a light denim jacket and not a heavily-padded coat, as initially claimed.

One police officer is quoted as saying he was able to grab Mr de Menezes and pin his arms to his side before the shooting started.

Another told how, earlier during the surveillance operation which led to the shooting, he had been unable to record video footage of Mr de Menezes because he had been "relieving himself".

The report also said that a post-mortem examination showed Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder, but three other bullets missed.

A demonstration is to be held marking one month to the day since the fatal shooting, the Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign announced last night.

The campaign is calling for as many people as possible to go to Downing Street next Monday at 6 pm to call for "no more cover-up", the sacking of Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and an immediate public inquiry.

The campaign will be circulating a statement from the family today and will later launch an online petition. It will also be encouraging supporters to write to their MPs to demand a public inquiry.