PROTESTERS are marching through Manchester city centre after Mayor Andy Burnham said “it’s not a clear cut situation” amid shocking video of an airport cop stamping on a teen’s head.
Around 100 people swarmed outside the mayor’s office on Oxford Road, and have since taken their rally through the town centre in their second night of demonstrations.
They can be heard chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “Whose streets? Our streets!” while waving signs that read “Fight Police Racism”.
Demonstrators have been seen holding carboard signs which read: “Serve and protect means GMP will stamp on heads”.
Others have been carrying Union Jack flags with the words “No Justice No Peace, Racist Police”.
The outcry was organised by Stand Up To Racism Manchester in response to a video showing a police officer kicking a 19-year-old and stamping on his head at Manchester Airport.
Shocking footage involving an officer armed with a Taser at the airport’s terminal 2 was shared on social media yesterday which sparked a major uproar and mass protests.
At least 100 people were also gathered outside Rochdale Police Station on Wednesday evening, with more protests planned.
It comes as a lawyer representing 19 year-old Mohammed Fahir, who was kicked in the video, claimed his client is now suffering a “cyst on the brain”.
Akhmed Yakoob said: “A CT scan has revealed a cyst on his brain, so please pray for his wellbeing.
“Right now the main concern for us is that the family receives justice and this no longer happens again.”
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also made a statement on BBC Radio 4’s World at One, in which he said “it’s not a clear cut situation”.
But the mayor has since issued a fresh statement as protests were held outside his office.
He said: “The Deputy Mayor and I have now had the opportunity to meet with both the Home Secretary and the regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
“It was agreed that the IOPC investigation now under way will be carried out as swiftly as possible, will involve community stakeholders and will be truly independent.
“The precise arrangements will be set out by the IOPC.
“I hope this provides further reassurance to people that all the right steps are being taken, that all relevant issues will be fully considered and gives people confidence in the process as it moves forward.”
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said it is “extremely important” that an investigation into the footage is able to happen “swiftly” and “thoroughly”, as she expressed “deep concern” over the incident.
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.
Now, 19-year-old Mohammed Fahir has broken cover and demanded “justice”.
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.
A police officer has now been suspended from all duties following a “thorough review of further information”, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “Last night I’d seen the partial footage like everybody.
“And my reaction was similar to most people’s in communities.
“What I’ve had the chance to do since is look at the whole incident and what I would say is it’s not a clear cut situation. It’s a fast moving situation that escalates.”
He added: “These are disturbing images and the right action has been taken by Greater Manchester Police. Which is to refer the matter to the IOPC and suspend the officer concerned.”
When asked if measures taken by police in the video would ever be necessary, he said: “Well, obviously people would all agree with that statement but there is just something to say to qualify it a little, which is that armed police officers operating in an airport are able to consider use of greater force given the role that they do.”
He continued: “Obviously, that is in very limited circumstances but there is a code that applies to their work and when I saw the video I was saying I’m struggling to see what circumstances would justify what I’ve seen and that is where things are.”
Asked what other information or context he was aware of, Mr Burnham went on to say: “It’s a fast moving situation that escalates and there are issues for both sides.”
Describing what he understands led to the kicking incident, he said: “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. “
“As I say, there are issues on both sides but having seen everything I’m just coming back to what I said… the image that everyone is seeing is disturbing and the right action has been taken, which is a referral to the IOPC.
“It’s really important that we don’t sit in judgement now and say we know everything and we’ve heard everything and come to an absolutely definitive judgement.
“That is a matter for the IOPC to do it but also I would say it is in the right place given the seriousness of the issue and the widely held deep concerns people have about it.”
He also called for calm after protests erupted last night.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, he said: “People do use situations like this for political purposes. I would ask them not to do it.
“There is understandable feeling and anger in the communities when people see the incident, of course, I guess everyone understands that and there’s a reaction but when people seek to exploit that then I don’t think that is at all in the public interest, it’s not right.”
The force also said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Force was used as the arresting officers were carrying guns and feared their weapons could be taken from them, an earlier statement said.
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.”
