Man shot 'to protect public'

An armed man was shot by police marksmen to protect the public, it emerged today.

The 23-year-old, not yet named, was wanted for firearms offences and was being trailed by undercover armed police when he was killed.

Police sources said the man was challenged in the street moments before he reached a busy shopping precinct. The man, armed with a handgun, was followed into an alley close to his home behind a row of shops in London Road, Thornton Heath. He was challenged by officers from Scotland Yard's SO19 firearms unit.

Details of what happened have not been released but one officer believed the suspect was about to use his gun and fired a single shot. A handgun was found next to the body.

An independent inquiry was launched today.

A second man, aged 19, was arrested at the scene yesterday and was being questioned at a nearby police station.

Arfa Begg, owner of a nearby travel agents, said: "I was in my office and I heard something like a shot, a firecracker, something like that. It has really scared me, it's really shook me up. I'm very scared now. I don't want to be in the office on my own."

Wahida Saddique, owner of the next door curry takeaway, said: "I heard a bang, looked outside and there was a dead body lying on the ground." A woman office worker who lives near the shooting said: "This is getting rougher than Brixton. There are always people being shot, but not usually by the police."

A Metropolitan Pol ice spokesman said: "The man was located at about 11.25am. He was fatally wounded and declared dead at the scene. We are looking for witnesses."