THE scandal surrounding a police officer kicking a man and stamping on his head at Manchester Airport is “not a clear cut situation”, according the city’s mayor.
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 mass protests – set to continue tonight.
A police officer has been suspended from all duties following a “thorough review of further information”, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
The force also said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
In the video, the officer appears to stamp on the young man’s head after kicking him in the face while he lies on the ground, his hands behind his back.
It comes as the man seen being stamped on has broken cover and demanded “justice”.
At least 100 people gathered outside Rochdale Police Station on Wednesday evening, with further demonstrations planned.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said this afternoon he has seen the full footage leading up to the incident which he said “escalates very quickly”.
He added that the police force was right to refer itself to watchdog the IOPC watchdog, but there were “issues on both sides”.
Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “It was, I think, an issue on a flight coming into Manchester Airport.
“When the flight landed, two individuals … were waiting for their mum, who I think said that there’d been an issue on the flight and she pointed somebody out and then there was an altercation in the arrivals hall.
“And then that individual who was involved in that – or a couple – were followed by cameras through the airport, and then we get to the scene that people have seen, which is in the car park area of Manchester Airport.
“So there had been already a serious incident before that. What people don’t see in the clip is that there is a situation which escalates and escalates very quickly. “
He said there were issues “on both sides” but reiterated that the footage everyone has seen is “disturbing” and said it was right to refer the situation to the IOPC to investigate.
The force said its officers had been called at 8.25pm on Tuesday following reports of a fight at the airport.
It 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.
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 in Rochdale last night.
Mr Yakoob, 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’s duty to take them to the hospital.
“But nevertheless they made their own way and now I’ve documented their injuries.
“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.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understands the “concern” over the footage and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is meeting Mr Burnham to discuss the video.
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.
“Updates will be provided as our investigation progresses.”
