Okay by the cops to bump off leading liberal? That's terrible! (5)

I believe the answer is:

awful

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'that's terrible' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for awful that I've seen before include "Fearsome" , "The pits" , "Very embarrassing" , "rubbish" , "Dreadful, really bad" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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