KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the public should immediately move away from crime scenes when police officers draw their firearms to confront armed suspects, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has advised.
He said bystanders standing too close could make officers hesitate to open fire for fear of stray bullets hitting members of the public, potentially giving attackers more room to act.
Musa was commenting on an incident in which a police officer had his right hand severed after being attacked with a parang at an apartment in Desa Aman Puri, Kepong, on Wednesday.
"The presence of many people near the officers may have forced them to consider the safety of those around them before opening fire, giving the attacker room to act more aggressively.
