Inside Jean Charles De Menezes' tragic death as Disney+ drama Suspect delves into what really happened

Daily Mirror

30-04-2025

Disney+'s latest true drama, Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes, is set to delve into the tragic events surrounding the untimely death of Jean Charles De Menezes.
The entire four-part series was released today, Wednesday, 30th April, on Disney+, inviting subscribers to explore the shocking events that unfolded two decades ago.
With a star-studded cast including Russell Tovey, Max Beesley, Laura Aikman and Daniel Mays, and Edison Alcaide taking on the role of De Menezes, Suspect revisits a harrowing chapter in UK history that saw an innocent 27 year old Brazilian electrician lose his life.
As the highly anticipated drama hits Disney+, here's a rundown of the real-life events that inspired the series.
A closer look at what really happened to Jean Charles De Menezes
The Build-Up
On July 7, 2005, London was rocked by four suicide bombings, three of which targeted various Underground stations and a fourth detonated on a bus in Tavistock Square, claiming the lives of 52 people.
Two weeks later, on July 21, the city faced another wave of attacks with bombs intended to explode at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval underground stations, and on a bus in Haggerston.
However, unlike the initial attacks, these bombs failed to fully detonate, with only explosions heard around 12.30pm on the targeted underground lines and the bus.
Reports suggest that the detonator caps were triggered, but the bombs failed to explode, possibly due to the low-grade hydrogen peroxide used in their construction.
Manhunt
Tragically, the bombers managed to escape after the detonations were heard, including a fifth individual who abandoned his device earlier without setting it off.
The manhunt to apprehend the offenders commenced, with former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair calling it the "greatest operational challenge ever faced".
The initial lead on the attackers' identities came from a gym membership card discovered in one of the bags with the unexploded bomb.
The card had an address in Scotia Road, Tulse Hill, which was in the same apartment complex where Menezes lived with two cousins.
Menezes had recently returned from Brazil, where he had been caring for his father with cancer, sending money back to cover medical expenses.
The Incident
Surveillance operations started the day following the botched bombings, with Menezes spotted exiting the flats at 9.30am to attend to a fire alarm call.
One of the surveillance officers thought he resembled a suspect captured on CCTV.
However, the image of Menezes was delayed in reaching Met Police headquarters because the officer in charge of surveillance was reportedly taking a bathroom break.
The delay resulted in Cressida Dick, who was leading the Met's task force for handling major incidents at the time, giving the order to tail Menezes. She also commanded that he be prevented from entering any London Underground stations.
Menezes was shadowed by undercover officers as he boarded a bus to Brixton Station, then hopped on another bus to Stockwell.
The officers found his movements suspicious, but the 27 year old altered his destination when he discovered Brixton Station was closed due to the attempted bombings.
As they also informed those at Met's HQ that he possibly matched the description of the suspects, "code red" tactics were approved with Dick ordering that he be "detained as soon as possible".
Menezes entered Stockwell Station around 10am, using his Oyster card to pass through the barrier and made his way to the platform. Unbeknownst to him, he was being trailed by undercover officers and newly arrived firearms officers who sprinted through the station before boarding the train, shouting "He's here!".
It is believed that Menezes, bewildered by the unfolding events, stood up and was about to approach them when he was restrained.
Two armed officers then fatally shot him 11 times, including seven shots to the head, which aligns with police guidance on dealing with terrorist bomb threats.
Aftermath
A day after the shooting, police identified Menezes, realising that he had no connection to the attempted bombings.
The tragic death of a man at the hands of the Metropolitan Police has been mired in controversy and regret, as stated by the force.
His family was reportedly offered nearly £585,000 in compensation but ultimately received only £100,000, with his remains being flown back to Brazil for burial just a week later.
His cousin, Alex Alves Pereira, expressed his belief that "I believe my cousin's death was the result of police incompetence."
He highlighted the discrepancies in police reports, including the baffling decision to let a "suspected suicide bomber" board a bus.
A pathologist initially claimed the man had "vaulted over the ticket barriers" and ran, but CCTV footage disproved this account.
Further doubts were cast when it was revealed that platform CCTV was not available, allegedly due to an un-replaced hard drive following the failed bombings.
The case was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but Sir Ian Blair restricted their access, stating, "the shooting that has just occurred at Stockwell is not to be referred to the IPCC and that they will be given no access to the scene at the present time."
Following an inquest, it was determined that no single individual would face prosecution for the death. The family sought justice through the European Court of Human Rights in 2015, but their efforts were once again met with disappointment.
Disney+'s Suspect marks the first drama to delve deep into the heart-wrenching events, with Menezes' family on board as consultants for the series.
His mother, Maria De Menezes, confided in the BBC, saying she felt "reassured that the truth was being told".