A family left ‘traumatised’, protests on the streets of Greater Manchester and a police officer under criminal investigation.
On Wednesday (July 24), a video involving a Greater Manchester Police officer at Manchester Airport went viral. The clip showed him appear to kick and stamp on a man’s head as he lay on the ground.
Since then, the officer has been suspended. He is now under criminal investigation for assault and is at the centre of an extensive police watchdog probe.
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The incident – which involved a family from Rochdale – has sparked a number of protests across our region. But a number of public figures, and those involved in the incident themselves, have appealed for ‘calm’.
Below is everything we know so far about what has happened.
What happened at Manchester Airport?
The footage of the incident inside Manchester Airport first emerged on Wednesday. It was widely circulated on social media.
The video showed a police officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man as he lay on the floor inside a car park at Terminal 2. It also showed an officer aiming a taser at the man.
The clip then appeared to show someone yelling ‘move back’ before a female officer then appeared to turn her taser and aim it at another person. A woman appeared distressed as she tried to get him away from the officer before placing her hand over his head in an attempt to protect him.
Armed cops were then seen restraining a second man sitting nearby, while another bystander, who appeared to be filming the scene, appeared to be pepper sprayed. After the footage circulated online, GMP released a statement.
The force said officers at the airport were responding to reports of an altercation between members of the public. Police said three of their officers were assaulted – including a female police constable who suffered a broken nose – and four men were arrested.
No footage of what happened before has been shared on social media – or by the force – at this stage. According to some media reports, the chaotic scenes were allegedly sparked by a row involving the mother of the two men captured in the video on her flight.
This has not yet been confirmed. The row reportedly re-ignited once the plane landed at the airport, before police were called to the scene.
Protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre
After the video emerged, crowds gathered outside Rochdale police station in protest. During the protest, demonstrators, some wearing face coverings and chanting ‘GMP shame on you’, were pictured outside the building, while others present let off fireworks.
A witness estimated there were around 200 people in attendance. One of the demonstrators told the crowd: “We’re no longer going to settle for this police brutality. We put our trust in the police and what do they do instead they inflict violence upon us when we surrender to them. This is supposed to be the police, instead they are gangsters in uniforms. We’re not going to put up with this anymore.”
Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said the protest ‘concluded safely’ and that police ‘fully respect their right to demonstrate their views peacefully’. On Thursday, another protest was then held in Manchester city centre.
A demonstration was organised by the group Manchester Stand Up to Racism outside the offices of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, whose role involves oversight of GMP. Around 100 people gathered outside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) offices on Oxford Street as chants of ‘no justice, no peace’ rang out.
After the demo flooded St Peter’s Square, a sit-in protest began on the tram tracks. Demonstrators sat and stood in the centre of the road as chants of ‘No justice no peace no racist police’ filled the air. One man stood directly in front of a blocked tram holding up a sign saying ‘Dismantle GMP now’ in front of a blocked tram’s cab window. Others stood just centimetres away from a lorry unable to pass the traffic lights.
Calls for ‘calm’ and for GMP to ‘restore public trust’
A number of prominent figures released statements after the footage from Manchester Airport circulated. Rochdale MP Paul Waugh said in an initial statement: “The video footage of a Greater Manchester police officer kicking and stamping on a man in Manchester Airport is truly shocking and disturbing.
“Like many who have seen this clip, I am extremely concerned. I have had it confirmed that the man arrested is a Rochdale resident and I hope to meet the family as soon as possible.
“I have expressed my concerns directly to the Assistant Chief Constable this evening and have been in touch with Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for policing of Greater Manchester. It’s right that the police officer concerned has been removed from duties and that this incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
After speaking with the family involved in the incident on Thursday, he added: “This is a hardworking Rochdale family, some of whose members are police officers themselves and are therefore particularly shocked at what they have witnessed. The family also want me to make it crystal clear that they have no political agenda, do not condone political violence and do not want to take part in any protests.
“They wanted me to appeal for calm and I hope that appeal is heeded. While there is clearly deep concern about this incident, there is also a vital need not to let extremists of any kind hijack these events for their own ends.”
Prime Minister Kier Starmer said he ‘understands the public’s concern’ over the footage. He said: “I understand the public’s concern. I’ve seen it myself and I understand that concern. There has now been, I think, the suspension of one police officer this morning.
“And the Home Secretary is meeting with the mayor of Manchester to discuss this as we speak now.”
Dame Vera Baird described the viral video as ‘worrying’ – and said there is ‘very little excuse’ for the officer’s behaviour. Meanwhile the leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, wrote on open letter to GMP’s Chief Constable saying that the force ‘must take steps to restore public trust’.
The town hall leader added that is it ‘essential’ that the force ‘realises the strength of feeling and impact this incident has had’, while also urging for ‘calm’ within communities. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he had met about 40 community partners in Rochdale.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said: “What people here don’t want – and I heard this very clearly in the room this morning – is politicians without possession of the facts exploiting the situation for their own political agenda with zero regard for the effect on the ground in communities in Greater Manchester.
“I want to finish by repeating the call for calm, particularly over the coming weekend. Things are now moving forward, the right steps are being taken and people’s voices are being heard.
“It is in everyone’s interests that from here we proceed with things in a measured and a peaceful way.”
‘Traumatised’
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Akhmed Yakoob, a solicitor representing the family from Rochdale, named two of the men involved in the incident as Amaad and Fahir. He said the pair had sustained head injuries in the incident.
Dubbed the ‘TikTok lawyer’, Mr Yakoob said that one of the men had undergone a CT scan for a ‘cyst’ following his injuries. He claimed that they had to make their own way to hospital after the incident.
Speaking to media outside Rochdale police station, Mr Yakoob said: “The family are OK but they are traumatised.” The family has also reportedly appealed for calm in the wake of the incident.
MP Paul Waugh, who has met with the family, said: “Extremists of all kinds are going to try and exploit this and hijack it for their own ends and that is the last thing this town needs. So, it’s my job to make sure that that family, who have been quite dignified in their response to this, get their wishes, which is to see calm prevail, but also for justice to prevail.”
He added: “I really hope that if there are any protests that they are peaceful, but, that the family’s wishes are adhered to. People should listen to them.
“They’re at the centre of this, at the end of the day, and they are the people who say ‘look, please let us just get on and pursue the independent process now’. That’s our focus, as well as making sure that they get the right medical help for their family members.”
What has happened to the police officer involved?
The police officer who was captured kicking the man in the footage was initially ‘removed from operational duties’ after the footage emerged, GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said. On Thursday, it was then confirmed that the officer had been suspended.
GMP said: “Following a thorough review of further information that has become available in relation to an incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, Greater Manchester Police has suspended a police officer from all duties.”
The IOPC revealed that a second referral was made to them regarding the use of PAVA incapacitate spray by the same officer. IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “We have also received a further referral from Greater Manchester Police in relation to the incident which took place on Tuesday 23 July.
“The first, received earlier today concerned the use of force by an officer on a man who was detained on the ground. The second relates to the same officer’s use of PAVA spray on another man at the airport.”
In the latest development, the IOPC revealed that the officer is under criminal investigation for assault. The watchdog stressed that this doesn’t necessarily mean criminal charges will follow.
But the watchdog confirmed that after the conclusion of its investigation, a decision would be made over whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service. “We notified the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer today – Friday – that he is under criminal investigation for assault”, the IOPC said.
“We have also served the police constable with a disciplinary notice to inform him he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards including his use of force. The serving of notices does not necessarily mean criminal charges will follow.
“At the end of our investigation we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and decide whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.”
GMP statements as Chief Constable says upset is ‘profoundly regrettable’
In a statement on Thursday morning, a force spokesman said: “Following a thorough review of further information that has become available in relation to an incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, Greater Manchester Police has suspended a police officer from all duties. A referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full independent investigation.
“We understand the deep concerns that have been widely raised with us, and will continue to meet and discuss these feelings with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives, whilst this independent investigation takes place.”
Greater Manchester Police’s top cop said he ‘profoundly regrets’ shock and upset caused by the footage. In an appeal for calm issued last night, Chief Constable Stephen Watson said the force is committed to aiding an investigation into the incident being undertaken by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
He appealed for calm following the wave of protests in the wake of the incident. CC Watson said: “It is a source of profound regret that this week’s incident at Manchester Airport has caused shock and upset in some of our communities.
“Throughout this week, senior officers have been meeting with community representatives to ensure their voices are heard and this will continue – we are at one with the best instincts of those engaged in appealing for calm.
“Whilst we are constrained in publicly releasing further information or footage about the incident due to the conduct and criminal investigations, we are committed to providing the fullest practical assistance to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
Protesters urged do NOT attend Manchester Airport demonstration
MPs in Greater Manchester have urged demonstrators not to take part in a protest at Manchester Airport today. According to reports on social media, another protest has been planned to take place outside the airport today (Saturday).
A poster for the planned protest has been shared on social media and seen by the Manchester Evening News. Yasmin Qureshi, the Labour MP for Bolton South and Walkden, has said there is ‘no need’ for the protest to take place.
Ms Qureshi shared a statement from the Greater Manchester Council of Mosques (GMCoM) on X last night. She said: “Please do follow this advice from Greater Manchester Council of Mosques.
“The police have suspended the officer involved and a criminal investigation is under way. In the light of this swift action, there is no need for a protest.”
The statement from the GMCoM said: “Many of you may have seen the call for protest tomorrow, Saturday 27th July, at Manchester Airport. We are the Greater Mancehster Council of Mosques urge our community not to attend this event.
“The origins of this protest are unclear, and we are concerned about potential negative repercussions which may provoke further hostility and Islamophobia.” The statement added: “Let us not disrupt the travel plans of others.”
Paul Waugh, Labour and Co-Operative MP for Rochdale, also shared a statement on X this morning. He said he had ‘checked with the family involved in the incident’ who ‘issued a plea for calm and ask for no further protests’.
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