Mark Duggan 'Unarmed' When Shot By Police

An investigation has found that there is no forensic evidence that Mark Duggan was armed when he was shot by police, the Guardian newspaper has claimed.

Mr Duggan's death on August 4 sparked riots in Tottenham, north London which spread to other parts of England.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating whether he was in the possession of a firearm when he was fatally shot.

The Guardian said the investigation has discovered that a gun owned by Mr Duggan was found some 10-14 feet away behind a low fence from where he was killed.

In response, the Metropolitan Police has said the newspaper's headline - 'Mark Duggan was not armed when shot by police' - was "inaccurate and misleading based on what is known at this time".

Police said: "The article, and especially its headline, states as fact issues that are subject to an ongoing investigation by the IPCC, and we would reiterate that it is premature to draw any conclusions about its findings."

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the IPCC said Mr Duggan, 29, had fired a weapon at police causing a bullet to lodge in a radio worn by a police officer.

This was later retracted with police admitting it was more likely to have been a bulllet fired by an officer whch had ricocheted.

The Guardian claimed several new findings have emerged from the IPPC's invesitgation.

It said Mr Duggan did obtain a weapon on the day he was killed - a shoe box containing the firearm was found in a people carrier Mr Duggan had rented the same day.

However, there is no evidence the gun had been fired, and that while Mr Duggan's fingerprints were found on the shoe box it is not clear if he had handled the weapon itself.

It is also claimed the vehicle Mr Duggan was driving was moved by police before independent investigators examined the scene.