In the days following the bombings on the London Underground in 2005, I was astounded by the telling and retelling, and then the amending and re-amending, of that “story”: the killing of a Brazilian man, Jean de Menezes. What was exceptional was the short timeframe in which these different versions emerged. Initially we were told the shooting had been “directly linked to the ongoing and expanding anti-terrorist operation” and that upon leaving the apartment that was under surveillance, Mr. de Menezes matched the description of one of the suspects being sought. It was later revealed that his identity couldn’t be confirmed because the officer was “relieving himself” at the time. Scotland Yard said de Menezes’ “clothing and behaviour” added to their suspicions. By the time de Menezes had walked to Stockwell Underground station, there had been a positive identification. He (or a police officer) vaulted over the turnstile at the...

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