Trending – Chris Kaba was core member of dangerous London gang

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.’ 

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