Sir, All the officers on the front line during the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes would have known that what Sir Ian Blair said at the subsequent press conference was simply not true, yet they remained silent. Had the documents not been leaked to ITV, would his family and the world now be any the wiser?

ROCKY FERNANDEZ
Kensal Green, London

From Mr Christopher Hack

Sir, The police officers involved in the killing of Mr de Menezes made an enormous mistake — the likely result of poor training and information. However, their intention cannot have been to kill an innocent man. Their motivations were to save lives.

The police investigation into July 7 and July 21 was spectacularly successful. The police, from Sir Ian Blair down, have done a fine job. The killing of Mr de Menezes was wrong, shocking and unforgivable, and must be investigated fully, but let us also remember the other innocent victims.

CHRISTOPHER HACK
Brixton, London

From Mr Noel Falconer

Sir, The public remained calm after the London bombings; the hysteria that relaxed the shoot-to-kill safeguards and resulted in the death of Mr de Menezes was political.

If the Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry finds that the police were poorly supervised and a senior officer resigns in consequence, the Home Secretary should follow him.

NOEL FALCONER
Couiza, France

From Mr Aviad Axelrod

Sir, As an officer in the Israeli army (1996-2001) I frequently briefed my soldiers on the “shooting to kill” procedure.

Shooting to kill is a last-resort tactic when there is an immediate, life-threatening situation.

Classifying a life-threatening situation usually includes two factors: evidence of a weapon (gun or bomb) and a motive. Since a motive is difficult to judge, reliance is placed primarily on seeing a weapon.

The procedure in Israel includes calling the person to stop; if not answered, shooting in the air; only if the suspect refuses to stop, shooting the leg.

Coming from Israel and having lived through years of terror attacks I know the current situation in London is not easy, but following such a procedure could save other innocent lives being lost in the future.

AVIAD AXELROD
Watford, Hertfordshire

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