Met Police 'regret' Menezes claim

Mr Paddick considers the matter closed, said the Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police has said it "did not intend to imply" a senior officer had misled the probe into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Brian Paddick had said it was he who claimed a close aide of Met chief Sir Ian Blair thought police had shot an innocent man six hours later.

The Met responded that the claim was "simply not true"; Mr Paddick said that amounted to accusing him of lying.

In a statement the Met said "any misunderstanding is regretted".

It added Mr Paddick had accepted its "clarification" and considered the matter closed.

It comes after Mr Paddick, a deputy assistant commissioner, consulted libel lawyers over the Met's original statement.

Sir Ian maintains he did not know the victim was innocent until the next day.

Mr Menezes, a Brazilian electrician, was shot dead at Stockwell station after being mistaken for a suicide bomber, the day after the 21 July failed bombing attempts.