Brazilian's Hometown In Uproar Over London Shooting

According to news reports, a demonstration of public anger and even a call for the arrest of British police officers has struck the hometown of the Brazilian suspect who was killed last week by members of an elite anti-terrorism unit when, according to the authorities, he ran from police and failed to heed their orders.

GONZAGA, Brazil - Hundreds of relatives and friends of a Brazilian shot to death in London after being mistaken for a terrorist marched along the cobblestone streets of his hometown Monday, demanding the arrest of the British police who fired the fatal shots.

Source: Story at Yahoo! News website.

According to police, Jean Charles de Menezes, an electrician and native of Brazil who was in Britain on a visa, was wearing a suspiciously heavy coat when he left a residential building monitored by authorities who had found its address among the effects of terrorist suspects believed to be responsible for the recent subway and bus bombings in London. Suspecting him of involvement in the bombings, plainclothes police tailed Menezes as he rode a bus to a subway station. Chasing Menezes through the station, officers pinned him to the ground after he fell and shot him eight times. The Metropolitan Police later issued an apology for his death after finding that their suspicions were incorrect.

The Foreign Minister of Brazil has met with the British government over the incident, which threatens to cause a rift in Britain's relations with Brazil.

According to news sources, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw has issued an unreserved apology for the shooting and said that a claim for monetary compensation from Meneze's family should be expedited. Separately, it was reported that the family is asking to be compensated in the amount of $500,000.00.