SCANDAL DEEPENS
Cop SUSPENDED after passenger kicked and stamped on at Manchester Airport
Watch the video above to see the arrest and two of the men involved in the fight
A COP has been suspended after shock footage showed a passenger being kicked and stamped on at Manchester Airport.
Shocking footage involving a policeman armed with a taser at the airport's terminal 2 was shared on social media yesterday leading to a major uproar and a mass protest.
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An officer was suspended today, having initially only been removed from operational duties - following a “thorough review of further information”, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
The force said the video showed "an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about. The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm".
It comes as the man seen being stamped on has broken cover and demanded "justice".
Though Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said the scandal is "not a clear cut situation" after seeing full footage of the build-up.
Police said its officers had been called at 8.25pm on Tuesday following reports of a fight at the airport.
The force said while trying to arrest a suspect, three officers were attacked and punched to the ground.
One female officer suffered a broken nose and all three needed hospital treatment.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault on emergency service workers.
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At least 100 people demonstrated outside Rochdale Police Station last night.
Chanting "shame on you", protesters accused cops of institutional racism, footage from the protest online appears to show.
One of the protesters had told the crowd they were "no longer going to settle" for "police brutality", according to The Manchester Evening News.
The station is around 25 miles from the airport.
GMP referred itself to watchdog the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which said it would assess the referral "and decide what further action is required".
Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry described the video as "truly shocking" and added it is something "people are rightly extremely concerned about".
He added: "During our response, three officers were assaulted.
"One female officer suffered a broken nose and the other officers were forced to the ground and suffered injuries which required hospital treatment."
GMP acknowledged concerns about "conduct within the video" and said firearms officers had been responding to reports of an altercation between members of the public.
A force spokesman said: "Whilst attempting to arrest one of the suspects of the earlier altercation, three officers were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground.
"A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three were taken to hospital for treatment.
"As the attending officers were firearms officers, there was a clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken from them.
"Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
"We acknowledge the concerns of the conduct within the video and our Professional Standards Directorate are assessing this."
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob last night shared a video on X in which he was joined by brothers Amaad and Fahir, who he says were those being assaulted at the airport.
He claims they were released by police earlier yesterday and forced to make their own way to hospital.
He added they then planned to join the protests outside Rochdale Police Station last night.
Akhmed, who is based in Birmingham, said: "They were released not long ago from Cheadle Heath Police Station.
"They then had to make their own way to the hospital, but in reality because they've had head injuries it was the police duty to take them to the hospital.
"But nevertheless they made their own way and now I've documented their injuries and we are headed to Rochdale Police Station to make a formal complaint of assault and wounding against the police officers that have assaulted both Fahir and Amaad and their elderly mother who was just there as a bystander."
Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson posted on X, formerly Twitter: "I am aware of disturbing footage from an incident at Manchester Airport this afternoon and understand the public concern it has prompted.
"I have asked for a full update from Greater Manchester Police."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said he had raised concerns about the airport incident with the deputy chief constable.
He said: "I have seen the disturbing video footage circulating of a GMP officer at Manchester Airport and recognise the widespread and deep concern this has caused in Greater Manchester and beyond.
"The deputy mayor and I have raised these concerns with the deputy chief constable."
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh described the incident as "appalling", as well as "truly shocking and disturbing".
He said the man being stamped on in the clip is a Rochdale resident and he has since spoken to his family, and plans to meet them in person today.
"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.
"I expect a thorough and swift investigation. The police have said that while trying to arrest a suspect, three of their officers were attacked.
"They said that one officer suffered a broken nose and all three needed hospital treatment.
"Our armed police face a very difficult job every day, and will themselves expect the highest standards of conduct from their officers in carrying out that vital duty to protect all of us.
"It’s important that both the investigation by the police and the investigation into the police conduct now gather the full facts."
IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “We can confirm we are independently investigating the level of force used by a Greater Manchester Police officer as part of an incident in which a number of men were arrested at Manchester Airport on Tuesday 23 July.
"We have been advised by the force that the officer has now been suspended from all duties.
"We appreciate the footage which was shared on social media has attracted widespread shock and concern.
"It is vitally important we investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. We are independent of the police and our investigation will be thorough and robust.
"Our enquiries are in their very early stages but we have already secured a significant amount of body worn video and CCTV footage which will be subject to detailed analysis.
"We appreciate people want answers and we will work to provide those answers as quickly as we can.
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“Updates will be provided as our investigation progresses.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understands the “concern” over the footage and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is meeting Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the video.
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