Tube shooting

It is being reported that the guy who was shot dead on the tube on Friday might have had an expired visa. In the context of recent immigration checks being conducted at tube stations, one might surmise that this was why he ran when challenged by officials. Unfortunately for him, it was the wrong time to run away from the police onto a tube.

Of course it’s very sad that Mr DeMenezes got shot, but I wouldn’t point the finger at the police here. The guy who pulled the trigger had to take a quick decision, in the context that our public transport network is currently under attack from people whose aim appears to use explosives indiscriminately to kill as many of us as possible. Hell of a decision. I doubt that it will be last time that someone is going to have to make a tough decision and maybe get it wrong before this thing is over. The stakes are people’s lives. Now, we’ve got another factor to take into account when going about our daily business in this town — if you decide to disobey the police, you may get shot. Just like if you decide to ride the tube, you may get blown up. You pays your money, you takes your choice.