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It is thought that the scientific investigators will remain at the property for up to a week searching for any trace of chemicals that have been used in a device.

More than 250 officers took part in the operation, which was the biggest seen in Britain this year. As well as police it involved MI5 agents and bio-chemical experts from the Health Protection Agency.

Such was the operation’s importance that Tony Blair, whois in Italy, was informed of the raid on Thursday night.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, was woken soon after the shooting. He went to Scotland Yard to be briefed by senior officers and met John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, in Downing Street.

After the operation, friends of the wounded man staged a demonstration outside the hospital where he is being treated. They claimed that the police had made a mistake.

One said: “Going into someone’s house and shooting them in front of their mum, that’s not right is it? Just because they have got a beard doesn’t mean to say you can shoot them.”

Another friend said that after the September 11 attacks on America the older brother had started taking his religion more seriously, growing a beard and praying five times a day. “When we were younger he was no angel. But he changed, we all just grew up. He chose to go on the right path.

“He prayed five times a day, he went to the gym every day and other than that he stayed at home.

“Every time he spoke he would say peaceful things. He would give advice to everybody.

“Out of all our crew he was one of the good ones, working and looking after his family.”

A 24-year-old man, who declined to be named, said that he was a “distant cousin” of the victim.

He said that before becoming a van driver for the Royal Mail his friend had previously worked for the supermarket chain Tesco. He said that they had attended a gym together and that the injured man was a keen motorcyclist who owned an R6 Yamaha bike.

He added that the younger brother also worked at Tesco after being introduced to the company by his older brother.

Speaking about the family, he said that they lived in a “civilised” home and often welcomed visitors.

He added that the brothers had three sisters, one of whom lived next door.

Speaking about the man who was shot, he said: “He went to the gym, he also worked out at home. He’s more homely rather than going out. Ever since I’ve known him he’s been religious.”

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