- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the shooting.
- Chris Kaba, who was unarmed, was shot on September 5th, following a chase that ended in south London.
- The Met Police have been accused of racism by his family.
The police watchdog will investigate whether race played a role in an officer’s fatal shooting of a black man.
Chris Kaba, who was unarmed, was shot on September 5th, following a chase that ended in south London. The Met Police have been accused of racism by his family.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the shooting.
The IOPC said it “will examine whether or not Mr Kaba’s race influenced any actions taken by the police”.
In a statement, it added: “We must explore all of the circumstances surrounding Mr Kaba’s death including: how the officers came to be aware of the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving; if they had any prior knowledge of Mr Kaba; and their decision-making and actions on 5 September.”
The Metropolitan Police officer who shot the 24-year-old has been suspended.
“We continue to fully support the IOPC investigation as they work to establish the facts and try to answer the many questions Mr Kaba’s family and others have around his tragic death,” said Met Police Assistant Commissioner Amanda Pearson.
“We’ve been spending this week speaking with local communities across London, including our Independent Advisory Groups – we know how important it is we listen to their views and concerns and explain as far as we can what is happening. We welcome more of these important conversations.”
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, stated that the IOPC “must go wherever the evidence takes them.”
“I fully understand the grave concerns and impact of Chris Kaba’s death on black Londoners across our city, as well as the anger, pain, and fear it has caused in our communities – as well as the desire for justice and change,” he added.
The IPOC said it had spoken with Mr Kaba’s family about the investigation, which is expected to take six to nine months.
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