Press photographs of members of the armed response team taken in the immediate aftermath of the killing show at least one man carrying a special forces weapon that is not issued to SO19, the Metropolitan police firearms unit.

The man, wearing civilian clothes with a blue cap marked "Police", was carrying a specially modified Heckler & Koch G3K rifle with a shortened barrel and a butt from a PSG-1 sniper rifle fitted to it - a combination used by the SAS.

Another man, dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and trainers, was carrying a Heckler & Koch G36C. Although this weapon is used on occasion by SO19 it appears to be fitted with a target illuminator purchased as an "urgent operational requirement" for UK special forces involved in the war on terror. - Michael Smith Times Online

After the suicide bomb attacks in London on 7 July it is thought the Met's Anti-Terrorist Branch implemented its own pre-arranged response to suicide bombers, based on Acpo advice. Codenamed Operation Kratos, and based on the experiences of the Israeli security forces, the guidance reportedly states that an officer can shoot a suspect in the head if it is thought he is a suicide bomber who poses an imminent danger to police or the public.

Eyewitnesses at Stockwell station on Friday said they saw police officers fire five shots into the head of the suspect.

If Operation Kratos is being used, it would be the first time a shoot-to-kill policy was officially allowed on British streets.

Killed by SAS

Sinn Fein has long claimed the SAS and other British Army units used a shoot-to-kill policy against IRA members in Northern Ireland. Among the cases highlighted are the 1992 shooting of four IRA men - Kevin O'Donnell, Patrick Vincent, Sean O'Farrell and Peter Clancy - in Clonoe, County Tyrone.

Three others - Peter Ryan, Tony Doris and Lawrence McNally - were killed in Coagh, County Tyrone, in June 1991 when SAS soldiers fired around 200 shots into the stolen car in which they were travelling.

Shoot-to-kill was also allegedly used by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988 on three IRA suspects.

Many policing experts claim the threat posed by suicide bombers today is so much more serious than the danger from the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that a shoot-to-kill policy is obligatory.

Former Scotland Yard commander Roy Ramm told the BBC: "Generally speaking police officers have been taught to aim at the largest target on the body, which is the torso and that has worked well.

"People have died but others - robbers and drug dealers - have lived.

"The problem with the police continuing with that strategy is that if a round enters the body of a suicide bomber it could detonate the charge, probably killing the person wearing it, the police officers and anyone else who is close to the suspect.

"That leaves no option for the police but to take head shots. Almost invariably a shot to the head will kill. In a sense it is a shoot-to-kill policy, but by practice rather than design."

But the death of Mr Menezes shows the tragic consequences which can lead from such a policy and there may now have to be a rethink by Scotland Yard.

- BBC [after this page identified the operation & the references below]

SO19 (or the Force Firearms Unit) is a department of the London Metropolitan Police which provides firearms-related support to the generally unarmed force. It could be considered London's equivalent to the SWAT units in the United States. SO19 are sometimes called the "Blue Berets", since they used to wear them, although now they are more likely to wear baseball caps. - wikipedia.org

Prof Clarke, who is professor of defence studies at King's College London, said police officers were not trained to carry out operations in this way.

"If police had been attempting to deal with this man they would have jumped on him and arrested him. Even Special Branch and SO19 (Scotland Yard's armed unit) are not trained to do this sort of thing. It's plausible that they (the officers) were special forces or elements of special forces. This was special forces-style behaviour, but it's impossible to say at the moment whether these guys were or not. They could have been police but they were not adopting police tactics."

IC WALES

The Metropolitan Police will not discuss Operation Kratos officially but it is understood that the tactics have been in place for about a year based on guidance from Israeli and Sri Lankan officers on how to combat suicide bombers or "deadly and determined attackers" as they are called officially.

The Met's anti-terrorist branch, SO13, implemented the response to dealing with suicide bombers, based on advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers, after the July 7 attacks.

Senior police officers said that tactics had changed because of the "unique problems" posed by suicide bombers - attackers who are prepared, and usually want, to die with their victims.

The guidance states that in extreme circumstances an armed officer can shoot a suspect in the head if the intelligence suggests that he is a suicide bomber who poses an imminent danger to the public or police. This is to avoid setting off any explosives that might be attached to his body. Five shots are deemed necessary to render a terrorist incapable of detonating his bomb.

The officer can open fire only if authorised to do so by a chief police officer - either at the start of a pre-planned operation, as seems to have been the case at Stockwell, or by police radio during a "spontaneous" incident. - Telegraph

Secret rules of engegement - er... don't the public pay their wages?

The police rules of engagement have also changed. This type of exercise that has been carried out by police in recent years is code-named Operation Kratos. It consists of trying to learn the lessons of all the situations round the world where people have tried to stop suicide bombing before. Armed police are operating under Operation Kratos guidelines In the past two years, firearms and surveillance units of the police have been retrained in new procedures under the Kratos rubric, and these include changes to the rules of engagement.

There are also changes to the way you might put someone under surveillance. We can speculate about the kind of effect that giving someone a warning might have, if you suspect they might be a suicide bomber. We can speculate about whether the police aim differently but we don't know, because those rules of engagement are secret.

BBC

Olympian gods : The brothers KRATOS and ZELOS and the sisters NIKE and BIA were the personifications of Strength and Rivalry, Victory and Force. These four winged gods stood beside the throne of Zeus. KratoV - Bia Bih - ZhloV = Strength Force / Violence Emulation / Rivalry - theoi.com

New Special Forces Regiment for the British Army

Published Tuesday 5th April 2005

The SRR cap badge consists of a Corinthian helmet placed in front of a Special Forces sword with a scroll underneath depicting the word 'reconnaissance'. This reflects the SAS and SBS cap badges in design, ensuring conformity within the UK Special Forces Group. The Corinthian style helmet, favoured by the ancient Greeks, was used from the early 7th to the 4th centuries BC. The helmet is facing forwards and suggests the viewer is being watched, while the wearer behind the mask is anonymous.

On 5 April 2005 the Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon MP, announced the creation of a new "Special Reconnaissance Regiment", which has been formed to meet a growing worldwide need for special reconnaissance capability.

In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Hoon declared the 'Special Reconnaissance Regiment' (SRR) will be operational from April 6th 2005. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said:

"The creation of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment demonstrates our commitment to shaping our Armed Forces to meet the ongoing challenge of tackling international terrorism. The new Regiment will help to meet the growing need for special reconnaissance capability."

The new Regiment has been formed to meet a growing worldwide demand for special reconnaissance capability - as announced in the Strategic Defence Review New Chapter in July 2004.

The Regiment will ensure improved support to international expeditionary operations at a time when it is most needed in the ongoing fight against international terrorism. Special reconnaissance covers a wide range of specialist skills and activities related to covert surveillance.

The SRR will draw personnel from existing capabilities and recruit new volunteers from serving members of the Armed Forces where necessary. Due to the specialist nature of the unit it will come under the command of Director Special Forces and be a part of the UK Special Forces group.

In a Written Ministerial Statement to the House of Commons, Mr Hoon said:

"The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) New Chapter published in July 2002 stated that we planned to enhance and build upon the capabilities of UK Special Forces. As part of this programme, the 'Special Reconnaissance Regiment' (SRR) will stand up on April 6 2005. This regiment has been formed to meet a growing worldwide demand for special reconnaissance capability. Consistent with the SDR New Chapter, this regiment will provide improved support to expeditionary operations overseas and form part of the Defence contribution to the Government's comprehensive strategy to counter international terrorism. The SRR will bring together personnel from existing capabilities and become the means of the further development of the capability. Due to the specialist nature of the unit, it will come under the command of the Director Special Forces and be a part of the UK Special Forces group." - news.mod.uk

Delivering Security in a Changing World: Defence Command Paper 2004

14th Intelligence. Also known as the Det, this SAS-run unit, was, until the creation of the FRU Ulster's main counter-intelligence squad.

- Neil Mackay

"One of the Army's most secret intelligence gathering organisations has been deployed on Britain's streets in an attempt to prevent further attacks. The newly-created Special Reconnaissance Regiment will work closely with MI5. "

- telegraph

"The Special Reconnaissance Regiment, or SRR, will provide specialist support for overseas operations, particularly those against international terrorism."

BBC

14 Intelligence Company

synonyms: 14 Intelligence and Security Company (14 ISC); 14 Int. and Sy; 'Det'

14 Intelligence Company was a special unit of the British Army. The unit was formed in 1973 (?) and its role was to provide surveillance in parts of Northern Ireland where regular British Army and police units had difficulty operating. Its members were known as 'operators' who were drawn from a number of intelligence agencies and the Special Air Service (SAS). 14 Intelligence Company operations were based on 'Detachments' ('Det') to each of the British Army's three Brigades in Northern Ireland. - cain.ulst.ac.uk

14th Int. was allegedly formed in 1972 when the Army established its own "secret intelligence gathering unit known as NITAT (Northern Ireland Training Team) . . . this evolved into a more specialised covert unit given the cover name of 14th Int." The authors don't mention that it's common for the SAS to be deployed as "training teams" in politically sensitive situations. Under this disguise SAS units have been sent to Oman, Zimbabwe, Brunei and Kuwait. (10) The MRF and "14th Int." appear to be one and the same unit. Not mentioned in Ambush, the MRF was also formed in 1972, and has been described as the best example of a pseudo-gang in Northern Ireland. Trained by the SAS, it was organised on a cell basis, and contained a "sizeable contingent" from the SAS. (11) A number of former and serving members of the IRA also took part in MRF operations. (12) According to Ambush, the alleged 14th Intelligence was trained by the SAS and used "SAS methods".

During the 1972 ceasefire the MRF shot civilians from unmarked cars using IRA weapons. In November 1972 the Army admitted that the MRF had done this one three occasions. (13) One of these incidents happened on 22nd June 1972 - the day the IRA announced its intention to introduce a ceasefire. (14) The shootings appear to have been done to discredit the IRA and, like the later Miami Showband murders, provoke sectarian killings.

SAS involvement was also alleged in two car-bombs that exploded in Dublin on 1st December 1972, killing two civilians. This happened just before a vote in the Irish Parliament on a repressive amendment to anti-terrorist legislation. The law was passed and the IRA was blamed for the explosions. They denied responsibility and pointed the finger at British Intelligence. The Irish Justice Minister later denied that a report had been compiled implicating the SAS. (15) In the same month, David Seaman claimed at a press conference in Dublin that he was a member of an SAS unit that was detailed to cause explosions to discredit the IRA. He was soon found shot in the head, his assassins were never found. (16)

During the mid 1970"s another cover name for the SAS was "Four Field Survey Troop, Royal Engineers", introduced in 1973 and abandoned in 1975. Fred Holroyd says this was an SAS unit under cover at the Royal Engineers' base at Castledillon, Armagh. Like the authors of Ambush, the Royal Engineers were told that it was a NITAT (Northern Ireland Training and Tactics Team). Holroyd, who worked with them, says its personnel were "former, serving or recently trained" SAS soldiers, who were commanded by infantry officers attached to the SAS. (17) One of these was Captain Robert Nairac, described in Ambush as "seconded to 14th Intelligence".

The SAS, their early days in Ireland and the Wilson Plot Seán Mac Mathúna

Secret ceremony for special unit

3 September 2005 - Members of a secret special forces unit formed to spearhead the fight against international terrorism held an inaugural parade before Defence Secretary John Reid, it was revealed. The Special Reconnaissance Regiment, which became operational in April, carried out the ceremony at a secret location on Friday. Drawn from across the Armed Forces, the male and female recruits are understood to have already carried out operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit is believed to have helped to organise the surveillance operation which led to the mistaken shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station.

Members of the regiment were drafted in to assist police and the security services in the investigations into the July 7 and July 21 attacks.

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mike Jackson and Mr Reid took the salute from the unit's commanding officer on Friday as a march-past was accompanied by the Parachute Regiment Band.

Mr Reid said: "The Special Reconnaissance Regiment is one of the new capabilities generated as part of the reshaping of our Armed Forces. "They have greatly improved support to world-wide operations at a time when they are needed most in the ongoing fight against international terrorism."

Defence officials have not disclosed how many people have been recruited to the regiment and have refused to reveal where the unit is based. It is thought the regiment was formed from the SAS trained 14th Intelligence Company, which gathered covert intelligence on terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland. - thisislondon.co.uk

Army deployed in London

(by Paul Donovan, the Irish Post) Sept 3rd 2005 - A little discussed element of the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell tube station has been the role played by the British army. It must have come as a shock to many to learn that soldiers from the Special Reconnaisance Regiment were involved in the operation. This unit was set up in April to combat terrorism and it was the first time that it has been engaged actively.

The regiment was formed from 14th Intelligence Company known as "14 Int" of the Det (Detachment), a unit set up to gather intelligence covertly on terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland. Its recruits are trained by the SAS.

The level of involvement of the soldiers is unclear with it first being reported they were working purely in a surveillance role and then that they may have been on the bus following Mr De Menezes to the tube station.

To date the MOD has said the soldiers will be co-operating with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation but it will be interesting to see how long this continues. If the IPCC probe into areas that the army do not want exposed then they could withdraw co-operation as has happened on occasion in Northern Ireland.

The direct deployment of soldiers on the ground in Britain is further evidence of the anti-terror tactics first deployed in Northern Ireland coming home. Army units like 14 Int have a murky past going back to the 1970s. Former army and MI6 operative Fred Holdroyd has told how surveillance units transformed into killer units operating beyond the law. These operations later led on to the collusive network built up with Loyalist paramilitaries to target leading Republicans for execution.

The army unit responsible for much of the collusion structure was the Force Research Unit. Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane was one of the victims of these completely lawless actions. As noted here before it is one of the enduring ironies that former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, who was sent to investigate the Finucane murder, finished up bringing shoot to kill back to the streets of London.

The very brief history of what happened as a result of these SAS assisted surveillance units being deployed in Northern Ireland offers a salutary lesson for Britain. Once the army become involved in policing matters - under the guise of preventing terrorism - the whole terrain changes. Maybe this was what Tony Blair meant when he glibly referred to the rules of the game changing regarding combatting terrorism.

The deployment of the SRR on the streets of London is a matter of real concern. The Northern Ireland experience shows what can happen if such operations are not properly controlled and monitored.

It is vital now that the IPCC inquiry unveils exactly what the soldiers were doing on the day that Mr de Menezes died. Beyond that there needs to be a debate in Parliament as to the extent and terms of engagement of the British army on the streets of London and other cities.

End military impunity from the law

It seems a good time with the British army being deployed on the streets of London to look at the laws under which they operate.

The Article 7 - End Impunity Campaign has just such a goal. The campaign has come out of the refusal of the Ministry of Defence to remove from the army the two soldiers who were convicted of the murder of Belfast teenager Peter McBride in 1992. After completing their sentences the two Scots guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher resumed their army careers going on to serve in Iraq and other parts of the world.

The campaign is based on Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states that "All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law." The campaigners argue that the victims of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and torture are not afforded equal protection of the law if the perpetrator is allowed to return to a position where they are responsible for protecting the public.

Given recent developments the Article 7 campaign would seem like one that it is in all of our interests to support. nuzhound.com