Director Jonathan Rudd's Stockwell - ITV1
The Death of Jean Charles de Menezes
On July 7th 2005 terrorists exploded four bombs on London Transport, killing 52 people. Two weeks later four men attempted to detonate rucksack bombs on three tube trains and a bus. None of the men were captured by police, although officers were able to identify one of them, Hussain Osman, from a gym membership card discovered at the scene.
Taking the form of a factual drama, Stockwell recounts the events of July 22nd when police shot dead 27-year-old Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, mistakenly believing him to be Osman. Based on police evidence at the criminal trial and inquest that followed, as well as eyewitness accounts, the drama also uses television footage and actual radio phone-in clips to demonstrate the heightened anxiety of Londoners at the time.
Having obtained a blurred photo and the address of the real terror suspect, a surveillance team arrived near the block of flats early in the morning, ready to observe anyone entering or leaving the building. Unfortunately they did not know that Osman had already fled the flat, and an innocent man, who lived in the apartment below, was about to be targeted. Although armed for self-protection, team members were given strict orders not to openly challenge the suspect – this was the job of the specialist firearms unit.
Police Could Not Confirm His Identity
But as the hours ticked by and the firearms unit did not arrive, the surveillance team began to worry what would happen if Osman, possibly ready to attempt another suicide bombing, left the building and boarded the nearest bus. Just after 9.30 Jean Charles de Menezes left his flat, and, despite not having a clear look at his face, one of the members of the surveillance team believed he could be Osman. From then on a chain of events, most notably a mistaken confirmation that de Menezes was indeed the suspected bomber, led to police storming the tube train at Stockwell station and gunning him down.
No Individual Was To Blame
In his summation at the trial, Justice Richard Henriques concluded that “the Metropolitan Police failed during the police operation immediately preceding that fatal shooting” but refrained from placing blame on individual officers, claiming this was “a corporate failing, with a number of things contributing to the ultimate tragedy”.
While the entire operation leaves many unanswered questions – for example, why was the suspect shot seven times in the head when no shoot-to-kill order was issued – Stockwell also makes it clear that the officers involved were under tremendous pressure to ensure another terrorist attack did not occur. All were attempting to follow correct police procedure, but a catalogue of errors and communication breakdown meant split-second decisions had to be made to protect the public. By simply presenting the facts of the case, director Jonathan Rudd admirably avoids playing the blame game, and leaves viewers to draw their own conclusions.
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