Following the raid under anti-terrorism laws conducted in the early hours of this morning in Lansdown Road, Forest Gate E7, that led to the shooting of one man and the arrest of another, Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) has received many calls today from members of the local communities who are alarmed and distressed by the raid and the possible impact it will have over the coming weeks. We are concerned by the lack of information that has been released about the incident this morning, as it is essential to address the genuine anxiety felt by people, particularly in an area which is predominantly Asian and includes a sizable Muslim population.
We urge the police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission to make more information available as soon as possible to quell unfounded speculation and ensure that local people receive some measure of reassurance. In the light of previous controversy over the use of armed officers in anti-terrorism operations, we feel it is vital that questions about the use of firearms are answered and that people know whether the individual who was shot was armed or not.
NMP will also be monitoring the IPCC’s response to this incident, in terms of fulfilling their obligation to begin a full investigation immediately. It is essential that the IPCC remain accountable during this process, particularly following the errors made in handling the investigation into the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
In response to the community’s demands, NMP will be monitoring the situation in the aftermath of this incident and providing information to people in east London who want to know more about the implications of the various anti-terrorism laws. NMP will be leafleting the local area, as well as mosques, providing rights cards on the anti-terror laws and details of our emergency service phone line. If people are concerned or want more information, they can contact NMP on our 24 hour free emergency service on 0800 169 3111.