Colleagues of cop at centre of Manchester Airport kick row are refusing to carry guns in protest after he was suspended
COLLEAGUES of the cop at the centre of a stamping row are refusing to carry weapons on duty.
The protest by airport cops comes as anger grows at bosses’ handling of the affair.
The male officer has been suspended and is facing a criminal investigation after he kicked Fahir Khan, 19, in the face as he was arrested alongside brother Amaad.
CCTV footage from Manchester airport has now revealed that the officer, and two female colleagues, received at least 15 blows to the head in the seconds before the incident.
Yesterday, Greater Manchester Police declined to say why the brothers, from Rochdale, had not been charged in light of the evidence.
It is understood that due to the publicity around the case and the police appeal for witnesses, any potential charges may take longer than usual.
The officers involved were armed and reacted forcefully amid fears their weapons could be taken, the force previously said.
Colleagues refused to carry their weapons in a show of support and were relieved by another shift.
A source close to the firearms unit said: “There is real anger at the way this has been handled and they didn’t feel they could safely carry their weapons after the officer was suspended.”
They said at the point the officer appears to stamp on Fahir’s head, he was “disoriented” from being punched in the face, and had feared his gun had been taken.
The incident on Tuesday sparked two nights of protests. GMP said the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the use of force.