Pictured: The 'gangsta' gunman whose death sparked riots







Death: Mark Duggan was shot by armed officers

Staring at the camera and making a gun symbol with his fingers, this is the dead 'gangster' whose death sparked the Tottenham riots.



Mark Duggan, 29, was in a car being followed by police during a covert operation on Thursday.



Armed officers shot him dead seconds later.



Residents said at least three shots were fired when officers swooped during the evening rush hour at about 6.15pm.

A witness said the shooting took place near a bus stop and medics tried to save the man’s life as he lay in the street.

One witness said the victim was an ‘elder’ from the Broadwater Farm Estate, a short distance away.

Fatal: A man was shot dead by police in north London last night in an incident where an officer was also wounded

Inquiry: The Independent Police Complaints Commission has now launched an investigation into the shooting at Tottenham Hale

The phrase is used to describe people who are well known and respected by residents.

Broadwater Farm was the scene of violent riots that led to the death of Pc Keith Blakelock in 1985.

One source said: ‘We can only hope that the backlash from the community is not severe – it is effectively a death in custody.’



Miss Wilson said Mr Duggan, also known as Starrish Mark, had become increasingly paranoid after a cousin was stabbed to death in a nightclub in March.

A police spokesman said: ‘The Directorate of Professional Standards and Independent Police Complaints Commission have been informed.’

An IPCC spokesman said that at around 6.15pm yesterday officers from Trident, accompanied by officers from the Specialist Firearms Command (CO19), stopped a minicab to carry out an arrest.

'Shots were fired and a 29-year-old man, who was a passenger in the cab, died at the scene,' he said.

The attempted arrest was part of a pre-planned operation under Trident.

It is believed that two shots were fired by a firearms officer, equipped with a Heckler & Koch MP5 carbine. A non-police issue handgun was recovered at the scene.

An officer's radio which appears to have a bullet lodged in it has also been recovered.

'Both the radio and the handgun are being sent for expedited forensic tests,' the spokesman added.

Incident: The shooting took place on the Ferry Lane bridge, next to Tottenham Hale Tube station

He would not state the extent of the officer's injuries, but revealed he had since been discharged from hospital.

The shooting took place on the Ferry Lane bridge, next to Tottenham Hale Tube station.

Jay Crowned, 39, who lives locally, said Mr Duggan had four children - three girls and one boy - and described him as 'a good daddy'.

Locals named Mark Duggan, pictured with his girlfriend Simone Wilson, as the victim of the shooting

She added: 'The whole family is devastated. Mark was a local boy who was loved by the community.



'He's not a troublemaker but he's been down since his friend was stabbed in Mile End in around April this year.

'His friend was like a brother and he lost him brutally, since then he's been really down. He's never had trouble with the police before.'

Another local woman said friends of the victim told her the man was in a car at the time of the shooting, while another local resident reported seeing a body 'at the apex of the bridge' next to a bus stop.

David Akinsanya, who lives locally, came upon the scene moments after the incident.

He was told by a witness that a police officer had shouted to the man to stop 'a couple of times', but the man had not heeded the warning.

The witness, who lives next to the spot where it happened, then heard four shots ring out, Mr Akinsanya, 46, said.

He added: 'There are lots of helicopters and sirens all over the place. There was also a surveillance van on the corner where this happened a couple of times earlier this week.'

Local MP David Lammy said: 'I am shocked and deeply worried by this news. There is now a mood of anxiety in the local community but everyone must remain calm.

'It is encouraging that the Independent Police Complaints Commission has immediately taken over the investigation. There is a need to clarify the facts and to move quickly to allay fears.

'It is very important that our community remains calm and allows the investigation to take its course.'