<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">A man has died after being shot by armed officers in southeast London today, in a rare fatal police shooting in the UK.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Unlike many forces around the world, British police do not routinely carry guns but can call in specialist firearms units to deal with the most serious incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>The Metropolitan Police said the man who died is thought to have been in his 30s and was threatening to harm residents at an address in Surrey Quays, southeast London.</div><div><br></div><div>“Local officers attended and attempted to speak to the man but, after being threatened, armed officers were called and quickly attended the scene,” a statement read.</div><div><br></div><div>“The man had got inside the property, and a police firearm was discharged. Officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service immediately provided first aid but sadly the man died at the scene.”</div><div><br></div><div>Two people were slightly injured in the incident, which happened earlier today.</div><div><br></div><div>The Met said it had referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog for an investigation.</div><div><br></div><div>Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh said armed officers “discharge their weapons very rarely and all officers understand and expect that when they do, their actions will be closely scrutinised”.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the UK’s interior ministry, which is responsible for policing, there were 18,395 operations involving firearms units in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 31, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>But there were only 10 incidents in which police firearms were intentionally discharged at people – up from four the previous year.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the charity Inquest, which tracks deaths involving the state, there have been a total of 82 fatal police shootings in England and Wales since 1990. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>