Tube had no armed police in wake of 7/7
FIREARMS police were not deployed on transport networks in the wake of the 7 July bombings because officers were otherwise engaged, an anti-terror chief said today.
Chief Inspector Vince Esposito, the senior adviser in the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, said officers patrolling London's Underground were unarmed despite raised security fears.
Even after the failed attacks of 21 July, uniformed police were not carrying weapons on the morning Mr de Menezes, 27, was killed at Stockwell Tube after being mistaken for failed bombing suspect Hussain Osman.
During the inquest into the death of the Brazilian electrician, Mr Esposito was asked if there was an increased presence after four bombs exploded, killing 52 innocent people, in 2005.
He replied: "My understanding was, yes, there was increased patrolling throughout that time." But he said firearms officers were on other operations.
Mr Esposito, who joined the Met in 1980 and helped develop Scotland Yard antiterror tactics, added: "Everybody is human and we all get excited occasionally but it is the training that enables us to carry out the duties as happened on this day in a calm and controlled manner."
The inquest continues.
