Since this footage was released last week, we have learned a lot about the events surrounding the shocking footage showing an armed GMP officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying face down on the ground at Manchester Airport.
We understand that the three officers – one man and two women – suffered head injuries, including a broken nose, during the incident in the Terminal 2 car park lobby at around 8.28pm on Tuesday 23 July. We understand that four men were arrested on suspicion of assault and police violence before being released on bail.
We also know that the following day, footage was widely circulated showing the police officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying face down on the ground. This footage caused a wave of shock and protest. The two men in the footage are named Muhammad Fahir Amaaz and Amaad Amaaz.
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A day later, on Thursday, GMP informed us that the officer had been suspended and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I understand the public’s concern.” Within 24 hours, the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed that the officer had been informed that the matter was now the subject of a criminal investigation into possible assault.
On Saturday, the Manchester Evening News exclusively released a second video that appears to show the lead-up to the incident. It shows violence breaking out between two men, a police officer and two policewomen, during an arrest at Terminal 2 of Manchester Airport. In the video, several punches appear to have been thrown by the two men involved, with one policewoman falling to the ground after being punched in the face.
Despite these revelations, key questions remain unanswered.
What happened on flight QR023 from Doha?
Police are investigating whether the source of the disturbance was an altercation on a flight from Doha. Qatar Airways flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester departed at 14:33 local time from Doha International Airport and flew through the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Turkey, Eastern and Central Europe before landing at Manchester Airport at 19:21. GMP is investigating what it describes as an “altercation” between passengers on board the flight.
The family’s lawyer, Akhmed Yakoob, who represented the brothers before withdrawing, claimed their mother was racially abused as she travelled from Pakistan to Manchester. He told LBC on Friday: “I was told there was some sort of exchange with another man who made racist comments about the mother who was assaulted in this video.”
What happened in the T2 baggage claim area?
Police believe the altercation occurred either on board the plane, which landed at 7:21 p.m., or later in the T2 baggage claim area. But whatever the nature of the altercation, it does not appear to have been picked up by authorities because no response was deemed necessary at the time, Manchester airport officials said.
What happened at Starbucks?
The verbal scuffle appears to have escalated once the passengers passed through passport control at around 8.22pm. The MEN reported that a fight broke out between two groups and that one man allegedly fled into the car park after headbutting another man. However, details of the violent confrontation and the disagreement that led to it have not yet been released.
What exactly happened in the T2 parking lot?
If this week has taught us anything, it is that selective video of an event can only tell part of the story. This remains the case even though the MEN obtained and published footage that showed the moments leading up to the kick inside the pay and display vestibule of the car park. The MEN knows that there is further unpublished CCTV footage of the vestibule, from a different angle, as well as police body camera footage.
There are two investigations underway to establish exactly what happened, the first being by the IOPC, which is examining the use of force by police in the vestibule. But a GMP investigation is also underway into the violence that took place that night, some of which was caught on camera and some, it seems, not.
The officer remains subject to a criminal investigation as well as a misconduct investigation.
