Police shoot man dead in Kent raid

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) Flying Squad detectives supported by firearms officers shot and killed a man in New Romney, Kent as part of an operation to prevent a suspected armed robbery, Scotland Yard said today.

The dead man was shot at about 8:00 p m yesterday evening and taken to hospital in nearby Ashford where he later died.

No police were injured in the incident and officers at the scene found a firearm which is being examined by forensic experts.

Three men were arrested during the operation and they remain in custody. Kent Police have begun an investigation into the shooting and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) has been informed.

No further details were immediately available.

Elsewhere, several shots were fired in Camberwell, South London early this morning after an altercation between two groups of men outside a nightclub.

Police found one man suffering from gunshot wounds and took him by ambulance to hospital. He was described as being in a ''potentially life threatening condition''.

Two other men subsequently went to hospital of their own accord to be treated for gunshot wounds.

REUTERS SP BST1444