In a shocking turn of events, a police officer has been suspended following the release of a disturbing video on social media. The footage, captured at Manchester Airport, shows a suspect being kicked in the head and stamped on by the officer.
The suspect, identified as Fahir, appears in an Instagram video alongside his lawyer, Akhmed Yakoob. Yakoob also represents a second man, Amaad, who was arrested during the same incident. While Yakoob does not confirm whether Fahir and Amaad are brothers, he states that they will be filing a formal complaint against Rochdale Police, accusing them of assaulting both men and “their elderly mother.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of an assault at Terminal 2 on Tuesday evening. During the altercation, three officers were injured, and there was a “clear risk” of firearms being snatched from armed officers.
Following the release of the video, GMP issued a statement confirming the suspension of the officer involved. The force has also referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full investigation. GMP acknowledged the “deep concerns” raised by the public and promised to engage with residents and elected representatives during the investigation.
Approximately 200 demonstrators gathered outside Rochdale Police Station on Wednesday night, with some chanting “GMP shame on you!” The protest ended without incident.
In the Instagram video, Yakoob stated, “I am with Fahir and Amaad here, they were released not that long ago from Cheadle Police Station, they then had to make their own way to the hospital but in reality because they had head injuries, it was the police’s duty to take them to a hospital.” He added that they are planning to file a formal complaint of assault and wounding against the police officers involved.
Paul Waugh, the Labour and Co-Operative MP for Rochdale, confirmed that Fahir is from the town and expressed his concerns about the incident. Waugh stated that he has spoken to the family and plans to meet them in person. He described the footage as “truly shocking and disturbing” and called for a thorough and swift investigation.
The video shows an officer with a Taser in his hand appearing to kick and then stamp on the head of a man who is lying face down on the floor, with a woman kneeling beside him. A second man was also struck by the officer.
GMP reported that officers had arrived at Terminal 2 to arrest a man on suspicion of assault. During the altercation, a female officer suffered a broken nose, and two other officers were injured and required hospital treatment. Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, acknowledged the disturbing nature of the footage and called for a thorough investigation. He appealed for calm, stating, “We do these things in the right way here, we never turn away from difficult things, we do not look away, we do it carefully, we do it properly and that’s what exactly is going to happen.”
