Chris Kaba: Met Police cop 'has £10,000 bounty on his head' after he's cleared of murder

The police marksman who shot Chris Kaba dead now has a "price on his head," according to reports.

Sergeant Martyn Blake, 40, was acquitted of murder on Monday afternoon and today, after reporting restrictions were lifted, the Mirror was able to document details of Mr Kaba's link to the Brixton Hill-based 67 gang.

And Mr Kaba, 24, was said to have shot a rival in the legs at a nightclub six days before he died during the police stop in September 2022, and would have stood trial for attempted murder had he survived.

Although Sgt Blake was acquitted of murder, he has reportedly had to flee his home as criminals have put a £10,000 bounty on his head in revenge for the shooting.

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Mr Justice Goss has lifted a court order, allowing the media to report Mr Kaba's involvement in multiple shootings across the capital as part of the feared 67 gang.

It emerged in a pre-trial hearing that those linked to the gang were "seeking to kill a police officer in retribution for Kaba's death". Three intelligence reports received by the Met warned of a danger to the officer, who at that time was still known as NX121. One said: "67 Gang seeking information on the identity of NX121 with a view to harming him or his family. A large sum of money was being offered."

Another report said: "The sum of money on offer was £10,000... in exchange for personal details of NX121 [including] addresses and vehicle registration marks. The threat of harm was directed at both NX121 and his family." Police concluded that "the likelihood of consequences following the identification of the officer is very high."

Insiders say Sgt Blake is now "living in a nightmare", fearing Mr Kaba's associates will kill those he loves. To protect the firearms officer, the judge on Monday extended a ban on the publication of his address, photos or even a description of what he looks like. Policing leaders and MPs also called for a change in the law to change the way marksmen are held to account.

As fury grew about his trial, the police watchdog faced pressure to drop disciplinary proceedings which could result in Sgt Blake's dismissal, according to Mail Online. Scotland Yard, though, said it was optimistic he could some day return to the force doing what he once described as "the best job".

The fatal shooting on September 5, 2022, came after armed police started tailing Mr Kaba's vehicle in Streatham, south London, because the Audi Q8 had been used as a getaway car in a gang-related attack the night before.

When police boxed in the vehicle in Streatham, south London, Kaba used the car as a "battering ram". Revving back and forth, he almost dragged the ten officers surrounding him under the wheels before Sgt Blake fired a single fatal shot through the windscreen. A judge had imposed reporting restrictions on Mr Kaba's background because Sgt Blake did not know who was behind the wheel.

But on Monday it emerged that Scotland Yard had pleaded with Mr Justice Goss to remove them, fearing an outbreak of violence when Sgt Blake was acquitted. In a rare move, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy warned the public would be left with "a misleading impression' with 'clear potential for emotions tipping into disorder".