NIGEL Farage has said the charging of two men after a disturbance at Manchester Airport was “long overdue”.
Footage of a fracas was shared online in July and prompted protests after it appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man as he lay on the floor.
The altercation, in the airport’s Terminal Two, allegedly happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight which arrived at 7.20pm on July 23.
On Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, had been charged.
The men will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on January 16.
MPs from Reform UK wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in October pledging to launch a private prosecution against those involved if the CPS did not bring charges.
In November, Reform UK leader Mr Farage said his party would make a legal application.
Mr Farage and his deputy Richard Tice said in a statement on Friday that the charges were “long overdue”.
“It’s obvious the CPS have only charged the attackers today because of the pressure applied by Reform UK MPs,” they said.
They added they expect a parallel investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to “exonerate” the police officers.
“Nothing less will be acceptable.”
The IOPC said its investigation into the use of force by police on six people was nearing completion.
Prosecutors said experts had concluded there was “no realistic prospect of conviction” of any police officers.
Brothers Amaaz and Amaad and their mother Shameem Akhtar, 56, alleged they were assaulted by police during the altercation, which took place near a car park pay point.
A female officer suffered a broken nose and two other police officers were taken to hospital following the incident, GMP said.
Lawyers for the family said the men maintain their innocence and will contest the allegations.
Footage of an incident at Manchester Airport between police officers and members of the public went viral on social media in July.
A timeline below sets out what happened:
July 23:
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), an altercation takes place between passengers from a Qatar Airways flight which arrives at Manchester Airport at 7.20pm.
A second incident, which police describe as a “violent altercation involving members of the public”, happens in the Starbucks of Terminal Two just after 8.20pm.
A third incident happens in the car park pay point area shortly before 8.30pm.
Brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25 and their mother Shameem Akhtar, 56, from Rochdale, are allegedly assaulted.
Police say three of their officers receive head injuries, including a broken nose.
Four men are arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
July 24:
A police officer is removed from operational duties after footage of the incident, appearing to show a man being kicked and having his head stamped on as he lies on the floor, is shared online.
Police make a voluntary referral of their response to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
That night, an estimated 200 people gather outside Rochdale police station to protest in response. GMP say the protest concludes “without incident”
July 25:
A GMP officer is suspended from all duties. The IOPC confirms it is independently investigating the level of force used.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says he has seen full footage of the incident, which shows a “fast-moving and complicated” situation with “issues for both sides”.
Protests in Manchester city centre that evening involve blocked roads and tram lines while videos online appear to show a handful of demonstrators with their faces covered, throwing eggs at Rochdale police station.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh says he has spoken to the family involved and they want to appeal for calm.
July 26:
The IOPC announces that a police constable is under criminal investigation for assault and has been told he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of professional standards, including his use of force.
Former Rochdale MP George Galloway visits the town and says he plans to meet the family involved.
July 27:
New footage, appearing to show events in the moments before the video which has already been shared, becomes public.
The Manchester Evening News publishes the video, which appears to show men throwing punches at officers.
Two female officers appear to be struck, with one ending up on the ground.
August 1:
Solicitor for the family, Aamer Anwar, says he has spoken with the IOPC about lodging a formal complaint against officers and says the family wants to understand on what legal basis Mr Burnham was shown the complete CCTV.
August 6:
The family and their lawyer hold a press conference in which they outline their version of events.
August 8:
The IOPC reveals a second officer is under criminal investigation for assault, relating to an incident shortly afterwards when two other men were arrested.
The watchdog’s acting regional director Catherine Bates says its investigation is ongoing in parallel with a GMP investigation into whether criminal offences were committed by members of the public.
August 15:
GMP says a “comprehensive file of evidence” has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice as part of an investigation into a series of alleged criminal offences.
September 5:
The family meet with the IOPC to discuss progress on its investigation.
September 6:
A spokesman for the police watchdog says it will investigate whether someone employed by the force shared footage.
October 7:
MPs from Reform UK write to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, pledging to launch a private prosecution against those involved if charges are not brought by the CPS.
November 18:
The CPS says it is still “considering material” and working with police and the IOPC while inquiries continue.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says the party will make a legal application.
December 20:
It is announced that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, has been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, has been charged with one count of causing actual bodily harm.
No police officers will be charged, the CPS says.
In a statement, solicitor Aamer Anwar said the family were shocked by the news no officers will be charged and they will be requesting a victim’s right of review of the CPS decision.
He said: “Our legal team will review the CPS decision, but believe they have fundamentally failed in the two-stage test which prosecutors must apply when deciding whether a case should result in proceedings before a court or not.
“The first stage is the ‘evidential stage’ and the second stage is the ‘public interest stage’.”
Protests were held in Manchester city centre and outside Rochdale police station in the days following the footage appearing online.
Calls for calm were made by the family involved and public figures including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
Other footage, showing events leading up to the incident, was later published by the Manchester Evening News and appeared to show police officers being struck.
The family and their lawyer held press conferences to outline their version of events and met with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to discuss the investigation.
On Friday, GMP said the officer involved has had his suspension lifted.
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he welcomed the decision not to take further action against officers.
He said: “I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome.
“Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved.
“The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to co-operate fully in this regard.”
The IOPC said two officers had been interviewed under criminal caution in relation to alleged assaults as part of its investigation and information had been shared with the CPS.
A spokesman said: “On Monday, we shared the final such piece of evidence with the CPS to consider potential charges.
“We will now work to conclude the few remaining lines of inquiry as quickly as possible.
“At that point, we will decide whether anyone serving with GMP should face disciplinary proceedings, and we will reach a decision on a series of complaints raised by six members of the public in relation to the incident.”
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Following our review of an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service has today issued charges against two individuals.
“This was a high-profile incident that attracted significant public interest and media coverage at the time, and we have worked closely from the outset with investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Greater Manchester Police.
“We have reviewed all the available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports and other material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider.
“Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers.
“We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers. We examined potential offences of actual bodily harm, and common assault, and reviewed expert evidence in the form of an independent report from an expert in the use of police force, to inform this decision.
“We always ensure police training is also taken into account in the context of these decisions, and in this case the combination of evidence, and the expert opinion meant there was no realistic prospect of conviction.
“We acknowledge that in this case as in any other, the strength of feeling has been high.
“Our specially trained prosecutors are often at the forefront of dealing with high-profile cases subject to intense public and media scrutiny and will always make independent and objective decisions based on all available evidence.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active and each of the defendants has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
