Man shown as police informer on Facebook shot at
By IANSMonday, January 24, 2011
LONDON - A man in Britain was shot at after his photo was put up on Facebook, naming him as a police informer.
Domenico Masciopinto, 30, had a bullet removed from his chest in hospital, but is said to be in a critical condition after the recent attack, The Sun reported.
Someone posted on Facebook a police computer screen grab with the man’s picture, claiming he had been an informer since 2009.
It was not known if he was actually an informant. Reports said records at a police station in Bedford were perhaps doctored.
An Indian-origin woman, Rajni Kumari, who claims to be Masciopinto’s girlfriend, said: “We are considering suing the police.”
Masciopinto’s wife, who asked not to be named, said: “My husband has been in trouble with police in the past but is definitely not an informant.”
A man named Malik Blackburn, of Bedford, was being questioned over the shooting and the doctoring of custody records.
A police spokeswoman said it could not be determined from police files if anyone was an informant.
“Information about informants is kept in a secure system with full access limited to specialist officers,” she said.
