The former commander of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist gang unit said he was not told Mark Duggan pointed a gun at officers when he was shot dead by a police marksman.

Mr Duggan's shooting in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, on August 4, 2011, sparked rioting in Tottenham and looting around the country.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Cundy was in charge of Trident Gang Crime Command when the 29-year-old was killed and cast doubt on earlier evidence given by firearms officers when he spoke at Mr Duggan's inquest today.

The officer who shot the 29-year-old claims he saw Mr Duggan moving towards him pointing a gun and opened fire in self-defence.

Det Chf Supt Cundy told jury that when he arrived at the scene he was not told Mr Duggan had moved towards officers with a gun – despite speaking to a number of people.

He said: “There is nothing in my statement and there was nothing I was ever told that suggested Mark Duggan moved to officers with a gun.”

Mr Cundy added: “I was told that an arm had been raised and but that was it.”

The officer who killed the 29-year-old fired two shots which hit Mr Duggan in the chest and in the bicep.

A gun that allegedly belonged to Mr Duggan was later found in a grassy area over a wall between 10 and 20 feet from the body.

Michael Mansfield, who represents the Duggan family, asked the Det Chf Supt if he had any idea about how gun had got there.

The Det Chf Supt replied: “He [Mr Duggan] could have raised his arm to throw the gun away which might have looked he was pointing the gun at an officer.

“He was then shot in the arm and this momentum could have meant the gun went over the wall.

“But this is only a hypothesis – it’s only conjecture and not evidence.”

Mr Mansfield went on to suggest that Officer Cundy spread this theory to other officers after the incident.

However Det Chf Supt Cundy denied this and said although he spoke to officers about this he made it clear that it was just a theory.

The inquest continues.