Did U.K. Cops Kill Innocent Man During G20?

Cops could face criminal probe as video is released of them hitting a bystander.

ByABC News
April 8, 2009, 10:18 AM

LONDON, April 8, 2009 — -- Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said on Wednesday police officers could face criminal probes if an inquiry into events that culminated in the death of a man during G20 demonstrations in London showed action was warranted.

Ian Tomlinson, 47, a newspaper seller, collapsed and died from a heart attack soon after the incident in a street by the Bank of England, shown in footage on the Guardian website.

The Liberal Democrats said the incident in the video was "sickening" and have called for a full criminal investigation.

The Conservatives also said it was right that there should be an independent inquiry quickly.

London's police chief admitted the video images raised concerns and Smith agreed there should be action if that was the conclusion of an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry.

"I'm glad that the IPCC themselves called for further evidence in order to do that investigation as quickly and thoroughly as possible," she told the BBC.

"If it identifies the need for a criminal investigation, that also needs to be pursued."

The video, filmed by a New York fund manager who was in London on business, shows Tomlinson walking alone with his hands in his pockets in front of a line of police officers, some with dogs and others equipped with riot helmets, shields and batons.

One officer appears to lunge at Tomlinson from behind, pushing him with enough force to send him sprawling on the ground. Tomlinson is then shown sitting up and apparently remonstrating with the officers, before bystanders help him up.

He is then seen walking away past a line of dog handlers.

Minutes later he collapsed in a nearby road, Cornhill.

Police attempted to resuscitate him before he was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"Ian clearly had his arms in his pockets and back towards the police. There is no need for them to step in towards him," Tomlinson's son Paul King was quoted by newspapers as saying.

"(The video) clearly shows that Ian did have an altercation. Now we can say, 'yes he did.' Up until now it has been 'if'. But now we've seen it, we want answers."