'Kill' Blunder In Training

Elite police officers from the unit which killed Jean Charles de Menezes made the same mistake in a training exercise 10 months ago.

The three-hour 'dry run' tracking 'terrorists' through the streets of London resulted in armed officers for the Met's SO19 'shooting' an innocent man.

Anti-terrorist officers followed two suspects, both played by officers, to a Tube station. One was a bomber, the other an innocent man. But in the confusion, a communications mistake led to SO19 to 'kill' the wrong man.

A source who took part in the exercise said:

"It was certainly very realistic. The mock scenarios have to be as demanding as the job."

A Met Police spokesman said:

"We are not prepared to discuss operational matters."