Man shot dead by police officers

The man was pronounced dead at the scene

A man has been shot dead by police during an operation in west London, the Metropolitan Police said.

The 52-year-old victim was fatally wounded outside Paolo's restaurant in Hanger Green, Ealing, on Tuesday night.

A loaded weapon was found with the dead man, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the incident.

Three officers fired a "number of shots" and all four weapons are being examined by forensic experts.

The Met said the shooting happened as armed officers were conducting a "proactive, intelligence-led operation" at about 2225 BST.

Officers tried to resuscitate the man before the London Ambulance Service and a doctor from the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service arrived, but he died at the scene.

No police officers were injured and there were no arrests.

Investigators from the IPCC and forensic experts have been at the scene throughout the night and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out.

IPCC Commissioner Deborah Glass said: "The Metropolitan Police Service referred the shooting immediately to the IPCC and I have decided that we will conduct an independent investigation.

"This will look at the planning of the operation, as well as the way it was carried out."

The victim has not been formally identified but members of his family have been informed.

Witness Andrew Wood told BBC London the dead man was naked.

"There was a guy laying on the floor, a naked man, and they were trying to revive him.

"I heard what I thought were fireworks and I went outside the back and it was obviously a shoot-out.

"There was just police all over the place and a man laying on the floor."

The Met said the police operation had involved officers from Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in the black community, supported by specialist firearms officers.