Met gun expert shot himself over Duggan killing

A SCOTLAND YARD firearms expert shot himself during a police standoff after blaming himself for Mark Duggan’s death, an inquest has heard.

Metropolitan Police civilian employee Tony Hanley, 51, turned a handgun on himself when negotiations with armed officers broke down near his home in Wallington, south London, the hearing was told.

Officers tried to talk to him on Jan 30 2016, and used a Taser and fired two rubber

‘He was upset and discussed threatening to harm himself and others’

bullets at him to try to bring the standoff to an end, but he shot himself in the head.

South London coroner’s court was told Mr Hanley had suffered a “breakdown” due to alleged bullying at work and three months earlier had threatened to harm himself and others.

The inquest was told he felt responsible for the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, who was shot and killed by police in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011, because he had recommended the type of bullets used by armed police.

Mr Hanley worked for the Met as a physical protection technician and was a specialist in firearms and ammunition, the inquest heard.

Prior to his death, he had been off sick for three months suffering from anxiety and depression, and the day before the shooting he attended his GP’S surgery, saying he felt suicidal and that he would “take others with him”.

Selena Lynch, the senior coroner, told the jury that on the day of his death he had been with his girlfriend, Tina Harper.

Ms Harper said he had been drinking and was upset and “discussed threatening to harm himself and others and was in possession of a hand gun”.

She left his flat to call for help and, just after 8pm, he called the police, saying he had a gun to his head and asked for help.

Armed officers found him in a nearby street with the handgun. The coroner said officers fired two baton rounds and a Taser.

“He raised the handgun and shot himself in the head,” she said. He died the next day.

The inquest continues.