Suspected killer of Kiwi-born officer Matiu Ratana, investigated by UK police for extremist background

More details emerged last night about the fatal shooting of Kiwi-born British police officer Matiu Ratana, and British police investigated the 23-year-old suspect for extremist ties.

The 54-year-old sergeant was shot multiple times in the chest by a handcuffed man at Croydon Custody Center, south London, early Saturday morning.

Ratana, who hails from Hawke’s Bay and worked for Auckland police for five years, was approaching the shooter for a Covid-19 temperature test when he was shot point-blank.

Ratana’s New Zealand family told the Herald they were “devastated,” and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted her condolences on Facebook, saying she was “incredibly saddened by the news.”

The father of one was only two months into retirement and previously helped protect Princess Diana, the queen mother and former prime minister.

The BBC reported that the suspect was known to UK counter-terrorism officials and that some aspects of his background may feature prominently in police investigations.

The 23-year-old suspect is believed to have shot himself after opening fire on Ratana. He had been arrested for the alleged crime of drugs and possession of ammunition.

Tributes flow from all corners of the world for the slain official, including Premier League football teams.

The Crystal Palace and Everton players will observe a minute’s silence before their match today in honor of Ratana.

“A minute’s silence will be observed immediately prior to the start of today, as we pay our respects to the local police officer, Sergeant Matt Ratana,” Crystal Palace Football Club tweeted:

“Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Although London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the shooting was not related to terrorism, the motive for the shooting is expected to be the focus of the police investigation.

A UK police watchdog said the suspect had his hands handcuffed behind his back and that they are examining police CCTV footage and body cameras to establish how the shooting happened.

Of particular concern was the degree of thoroughness with which the suspect was searched prior to arrest.

The Daily Mail reported that Ratana was reportedly shot five times in the chest at close range.

The family of Ratana’s partner of four years, Sue Bushby, had also been contacted last night by the British press.

Bushby’s sister, Amanda Tessier, questioned the procedures at the South London Police Station that allowed this to happen.

“We just can’t believe it. How did someone have a gun at the police station?” Tessier told The Sun.

“I’m sure the Met is going to do a lot of research, but it just doesn’t seem right.”

Tessier said her sister was distressed by the news.

“She knocked on the door in the morning. It’s just devastating,” Tessier said.

“We can’t believe it. He was the soul and the life, a really fun-loving guy. He was a great friendly bear, one of the loveliest men you could ever meet.”

Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Ratana was educated at Palmerston North Boys’ High School and left for the UK in 1989 in his early 20s. He joined the London Metropolitan Police two years later.

He was once just 300 meters from an IRA bomb that exploded outside the British Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing St in 1992.

Ratana returned to New Zealand to serve in the Auckland City Police and Manukau Counties between 2003 and 2008.

New Zealand police called Ratana’s sister in New Zealand in the early hours of yesterday morning to break the news.

“Everyone is really devastated to hear the news that it happened,” Ratana’s cousin Adrian Rurawhe, who is the Labor MP for the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate, told the Herald.

“He was really proud to be a police officer, he was also really proud to be a New Zealand Maori.”

Rurawhe described Ratana as “brave”.

“We all went through a voyage of discovery, especially those of us who did not grow up with you, but he was very proud to be Maori.”

Ratana also had strong ties to New Zealand history. He is the grandson of Iriaka Ratana, the first Maori MP, and great-great-grandson of the founder of the Ratana Church, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana.

Ratana was also heavily involved in rugby throughout his life, becoming the senior manager for East Grinstead RFC, South London, in recent years.

The aftermath of Ratana’s death was echoing in the UK police community last night, and a former Manchester police chief told the BBC that the shooting “was obviously going to cause police officers a lot of fear”.

“It’s very upsetting to them because it makes them feel so vulnerable,” said former Greater Manchester Police Chief Sir Peter Fahy.

Sir Peter added that the circumstances surrounding Ratana’s death were “incredibly unusual.”

“There are procedures to register prisoners before they are taken to the police station in vans or cars, they are re-registered when they arrive at police stations and there are additional procedures due to the detection of Covid,” said Sir Peter .

UK police officers were also yesterday posting their profile photos on social media black with a blue stripe to pay their respects.

Born to a Scottish mother and a Maori father, Ratana was the eldest son of an extended whānau of stepbrothers and stepsisters.

His immediate family in New Zealand told the Herald they did not want to comment.