A senior police officer who visited the annual 9/11 memorial service in New York two years ago has been castigated for attending a Cornish village fete dressed as Osama bin Laden.

Chief Superintendent Colin Terry’s choice of fancy dress was described as “unacceptable” by his own police force after he took part in a parade at the Grampound Carnival wearing robes and a rubber mask representing the al-Qaeda leader.

Mr Terry, who is on secondment to the Foreign Office, made the bizarre outfit choice just a few days before the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attack. It is understood that in 2006 the officer travelled to Ground Zero for the fifth anniversary service held at the site where the World Trade Centre was hit by two hijacked planes.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and Devon and Cornwall police said today that they would have begun misconduct proceedings if the officer had not been working at the Foreign Office.

“The decision to participate in the carnival and the choice of costume were both personal decisions by Chief Superintendent Terry himself,” said a police spokeswoman.

“Whilst we believe his actions were misguided rather than malicious, they were clearly inappropriate and we would condemn any such actions by any police officer as unacceptable.”

The carnival was held on Saturday in the village of Grampound, where Mr Terry lives with his family. Today, residents said they were surprised by the adverse reaction to the costume choice.

Becky Knight, who works at the Dolphin Pub, said: “The parade was just a bit of village fun, I would be surprised if people took offence.”

Diane Hannam, of the carnival committee, said: “We definitely saw the costume but I don’t remember anyone commenting on the day.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Why Witherspoon is highlighting domestic violence
• No, MP does not stand for Mostly Plastered
• Don’t bottle out of your champagne moment