Met chief 'kept in dark on Menezes' death'

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into how the identity of the innocent Mr Menezes was released found that Sir Ian was among those not kept informed by Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman.

But just hours after the incident on 22 July, 2005, when Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head, junior officers enjoying a day off at Lord's cricket ground heard rumours that marksmen had made a "terrible mistake".

One detective at Marylebone police station was told at 5pm that there had been a "massive cock-up" and a "Brazilian tourist" had been shot.

Meanwhile, the police watchdog found Sir Ian was "almost totally uninformed".

The IPCC said Mr Hayman had "misled" senior officers by failing to tell them the dead man was not one of four failed suicide bombers on the run after botched attacks the day before.

The report highlighted inconsistencies between what Mr Hayman, the country's top counter-terrorism officer, had told a press briefing and a police authority management meeting on the day of the shooting.

He told reporters the dead man was not one of the four would-be bombers. But a Met press release issued later the same afternoon said it had not been clear whether he had been one of the four.

"He could not have believed both inconsistent statements were true," the IPCC said.

Mr Hayman faced calls to resign last night, after the IPCC recommended disciplinary action.

Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said Mr Hayman's position was "uniquely difficult to sustain".

The IPCC ruled that allegations of misconduct against Mr Hayman were "substantiated" by the evidence they heard.

It said his failure to keep the commissioner updated with information he had given to reporters was a "serious concern".

Sir Ian was cleared of lying, but questions were raised as to whether he should have made more effort to stay in the loop.

At a press conference nearly six hours after Mr de Menezes had been killed, Sir Ian released wrong information that the 27-year-old had been challenged by officers but refused to stop.

Wrong accounts by witnesses of Mr de Menezes wearing bulky clothing with wires protruding were also broadcast as fact.

Relatives of Mr de Menezes said it was "unbelievable" that Sir Ian did not know that an innocent man had been killed that day.

His cousin, Alessandro Pereira, said: "This report shows the police were a shambolic mess and senior officers should be held to account."

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said: "The commissioner and the Metropolitan Police are in the forefront of the fight against crime and terrorism in often very difficult circumstances.

"They have my full confidence and our thanks and support in the difficult job that they do."

CONFUSION AND CLAIMS

22 JULY, 2005

• 10:06am - Jean Charles de Menezes is shot dead by armed police.

• 10:10am - An explosives officer recovers a wallet from the dead man.

• 11:41am - The media is told armed police challenged a man, and subsequently shot him.

• 14:47pm - The wallet is found to contain Brazilian documentation.

• Before 15:30pm - Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick claims he is told by one of Sir Ian's staff officers: "We've shot a Brazilian tourist."

• 15:30pm - Sir Ian tells a press conference: "This shooting is directly linked to the anti-terrorist operation."

• 16:30pm - Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman apparently briefs a group of journalists the victim is not one of the 21 July bombers.

23 JULY

• 16:52pm - The Met tells the media that the man is not connected to the 21 July attacks.