British bishop defends police shoot-to-kill policy

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15404719.htm

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A leading British bishop defended a "shoot-to-kill" policy on Tuesday, saying police officers should be allowed to gun down suspected suicide bombers.

Speaking as Church of England members met to discuss the threat of terrorism in Britain, Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler described such killings as a lesser of two evils. "Sometimes we have to judge between two things that are wrong to produce the best result," he told BBC radio.

"Obviously, killing somebody is never a right thing to do, but if it prevents many other people being killed, it may be the only thing to do."

The way British police deal with potential suicide bombers has been under close scrutiny since July 22, when officers shot dead an innocent Brazilian on a London underground train because they wrongly thought he was about to blow himself up.

[Benhurst]

1. Yeah, right. That's exactly what Jesus would do. NT