Tuesday, July 26 2005 10:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: A young Brazilian man, killed by British anti-terror police in London last week, was shot eight times in total, the country's Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said yesterday (July 25, 2005).

The information had been given at the opening of an inquest into the death of 27-year-old electrician, Jean Charles de Menezes, earlier Monday (July 25, 2005), an IPCC spokeswoman told AFP.

The spokeswoman said that she could not confirm reports that Menezes was shot seven times in the head and once in the shoulder.

Witnesses reported seeing an apparently terrified Menezes, pursued by police through Stockwell Underground station, in south London, on Friday (July 22, 2005) morning, before being cornered in a carriage and shot repeatedly in the head.

Police said at the time that they opened fire because he had refused to obey instructions, and that his bulky clothing made them fear he might have been carrying explosives.

On Sunday (July 24, 2005), officers said they now recognised Menezes had no connection with a botched bombing attack on subway trains and a bus last week, calling his death 'a tragedy.'

Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his regret yesterday (July 25, 2005) for the death, but also called for understanding of the split-second decision police had to make.