LONDON: 30 July 2024: New footage has emerged allegedly showing the assault of three police officers at Manchester Airport, including an officer kicking a man in the head. The chaotic scenes, captured on video obtained by the Manchester Evening News, depict an officer kicking and stomping on the head of a man lying face down on the ground. A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer has been suspended after the video circulated widely on social media, leading to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city center. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced that the officer is now under criminal investigation for assault. Next steps include deciding whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service and determining if disciplinary action will be taken against the officer. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told Sky News that the situation is complex and violent, with issues on both sides.
He cautioned the public against rushing to conclusions, emphasizing that no one has all the facts. As the investigation continues, police are urging witnesses to upload information, images, or footage to a public portal. The first incident involved an altercation among passengers from Qatar Airways flight QR023, which arrived at 7:20 PM. This altercation may have occurred during the flight or in the T2 baggage hall, according to police. The second incident involved a violent confrontation at a T2 Starbucks around 8:22 PM. The Sun reported that shocking videos show an officer being put in a chokehold and another officer sustaining a broken nose. According to sources, a male passenger allegedly pushed his trolley into the mother of two boys, Fahir and Amaad. At 8:22 PM, the woman met her sons and informed them about the earlier incident.
A "violent altercation" then reportedly broke out at the Starbucks. Shortly after, a male officer and two female officers intercepted the family at the car park ticket machines. The report details that in the clip, Fahir appears to strike a female officer in the face, breaking her nose, and then knocks down another female officer. His brother Amaad then allegedly throws “full-blooded” punches at a male armed officer as he collapses into a chair. In response to the newly released footage, Birmingham solicitor Akhmed Yakoob, who represents the family at the center of the incident, publicly stated that he does not condone violence. The 36-year-old lawyer, who has nearly 210,000 followers on TikTok, posted a video on Saturday evening asserting, “I do not promote violence.” He added that he has been working to de-escalate the situation and urged protesters at Rochdale police station to go home.