LBC

A former Met firearms officer told Black Lives Matter activist that she was "trained by Hollywood" after the activist questioned why Martyn Blake did not opt for non-lethal force against Chris Kaba.

Former Met Police Specialist Firearms Officer Tony Long and Black Lives Matter Activist Amarn Ayton clashed over the acquittal of a Met marksman who fatally shot Chris Kaba.

Speaking with LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, the pair argued over whether Firearms officer Martyn Blake could have avoided fatally shooting Mr Kaba.

Suella Braverman has told LBC Met Firearms officer Martyn Blake should "never" have been charged with murder for the shooting of Chris Kaba.

Mr Blake, 40, stood trial after shooting the 24-year-old through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, in September 2022.

Firearms officer, Martyn Blake, was acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey after around three and a half hours of deliberation on Monday.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Braverman said: “These charges should never have been brought against him.

Protests took place outside the Old Bailey on Monday evening following the acquittal of a Met marksman who fatally shot Chris Kaba.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court with Chris Kaba's family after the marksman who fatally shot him was cleared of murder.

Firearms officer, Martyn Blake, was acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey after around three and a half hours of deliberation on Monday.

Mr Blake, 40, stood trial after shooting the 24-year-old through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, in September 2022.

The Met police marksman who fatally shot Chris Kaba has been cleared of his murder.

Martyn Blake, 40, stood trial at the Old Bailey after shooting the 24-year-old through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5 2022.

The car had been used as a getaway vehicle in a shooting the previous evening, and was hemmed in by police cars in Kirkstall Gardens after an officer recognised its registration number.

The "devastated" family of Chris Kaba have said they will "continue fighting" after a Met Police marksman was cleared of murder earlier.

Martyn Blake shot the 24-year-old who was unarmed during a vehicle stop in Streatham in September of 2022.

The car had been used as a getaway vehicle in a shooting the previous evening, and was hemmed in by police cars in Kirkstall Gardens after an officer recognised its registration number.

The car he was driving had been involved in a shooting in Brixton the night before.

An armed police officer had ‘a genuine held belief’ that he and his colleagues would be killed if he didn’t shoot Chris Kaba in South London, a court has heard.

The 24-year-old Black man was shot through a windscreen by Martyn Blake, now 40, on September 5, 2022, as the car he was driving was being pursued through Streatham.

The Old Bailey heard that police vehicles had been planning a tactical stop of the Audi Q8, which had been linked to a shooting in Brixton the night before but as it turned from New Park Road onto Kirkstall Gardens, “plans had to change”.

A Metropolitan Police marksman is due to go on trial later over the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba.

Martyn Blake, 40, is accused of the murder of 24-year-old Mr Kaba in south London on September 6 2022.

Mr Kaba died after being shot once in the head through the windscreen of an Audi car in Kirstall Gardens, Streatham.

Blake, who in the case was formerly referred to as NX121, has denied the charge against him.

His trial is being heard before Mr Justice Goss at the Old Bailey and is expected to go on for up to three weeks.

The Transport Secretary has said that decisions over 20mph zones and low traffic neighbourhoods should be left to local councils, rather than central government.

Louise Haigh said that the previous government became embroiled in "culture wars" over traffic restrictions, which she wanted to avoid.

She said the Department for Transport's (DfT) would give its "full support" to authorities in England that wanted to roll out 20mph schemes, adding that local residents should be consulted in advance.

A teenager is fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest at a playground in Streatham Common on Saturday.

The 18-year-old victim was stabbed in the playground area of the popular south London park in a shocking act of violence that has left the local community reeling.

"This is getting ridiculous,kids should be supporting each other,not stabbing," said one Facebook user.

The teen was rushed to a hospital where he remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries from the knife attack.

The number of UK bank branches to close in the past nine years has surpassed 6,000.

Barclays is closing eight more of its branches for good on Friday, taking the total by the end of the day to 6,005.

It equates to over 60% of the bank branch network since consumer group Which? began tracking closures in 2015.

The milestone highlights the impact closures have had on high streets and the need to provide replacement services for millions who still rely on them, Which? said.