UK Daily Trending stories
Media Coverage
The story leads many of the UK national newspapers this morning and remains at the top of the news cycle online.
On social media, the story continues to trend as users react to the extensive criminal record of Kaba.
Trending – Chris Kaba was core member of dangerous London gang
The media blackout on facts regarding Chris Kaba has been lifted now the case against Officer Martyn Blake has concluded. Blake shot Kaba dead as he tried to ram his car through a police blockade.
Blake was aquitted yesterday and the media – in print and online – as well as the general public are sharing their reactions to the developments coming out.
The media had been banned from talking about Kaba’s criminal history whilst the case was ongoing, but that ban has now been lifted. newspapers and the discussion on social media.
The facts
- Martyn Blake was part of Met’s MO19 specialist firearm command
- Chris Kaba – who was unarmed – had been followed and stopped by police because the car he was driving had been linked to a previous shooting in Brixton
- He was boxed in by police cars, and he attempted to ram through
- He was shot in the head by Blake who said during the trial he feared his one of his colleagues would be killed
- The media ban on reporting on Kaba’s criminal history has been lifted
- Kaba was part of the 67 gang, a UK drill group and infamous gang
- Kaba was named as the gunman in a nightclub shooting days before he died
The reaction
Many right-leaning media and online commentators are highlighting Kaba’s extensive and violent criminal past – which was hidden during the trial.
Many of them feel vindicated after left-leaning media and online commentators as well as some liberal politicians pushed an image contrary to what has since been revealed.
Many papers question why the cop had even been arrested and there are many calling for an overhaul of the system to protect cops who are doing their jobs.
Some papers – left and right – are reporting Kaba’s family had pushed for the police officer’s identity to be revealed whilst wanting Chris’s criminal history kept quiet.
The right-leaning media are also reporting the violent gang Kaba was linked to has put a £10,000 bounty on the police officer’s head – with him and his family fleeing their home and going into hiding.
There’s not a great deal of sympathy for the victim since the news of his criminal history has come to light. Questions are being asked on whether the cop should have shot Kaba’s car tyres but most of the focus is on the officer and his safety.
Many online users have expressed frustration at the media’s portrayal of Kaba before the restrictions were lifted. They say the media had painted an image of Kaba as an ‘innocent choirboy’ when instead he was a ‘victim of his own choices.’
Trending on social media
What are users saying on Twitter/X?
Read the Tweets!
Cold blooded murder. How do you watch this & be ok with the verdict? Martyn Blake didn't shoot Kaba's tyres, didn't diffuse, disarm or de-escalate but went straight for the kill shot to Chris Kaba's head. That's what the Police is trained to do to Black men eh – be their… https://t.co/Ml9jxCdmrY
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) October 22, 2024
Chris Kaba is a victim of his own decisions pic.twitter.com/VoeADCaM0x
— J (@jasgreeny) October 21, 2024
I’ve asked before…I’ll ask again, where is Chris Kaba’s Rolex watch that went missing on the night Martyn Blake shot and killed him? pic.twitter.com/XNtZ7egH14
— Michael Morgan (@mikecmorgan) October 21, 2024
Chris Kaba’s mother asked to extend the judicial decision not to allow the press to report on Kaba’s criminal background.
— Alex Armstrong (@alexharmstrong) October 22, 2024
She DID push for the officers name to be made public, however. pic.twitter.com/QIqqgT4jJ1