Household of man kicked by police left ‘traumatised’

The household of a person who was kicked and stamped on by a police officer at Manchester Airport have been left “traumatised”, a solicitor representing them has stated.

Akhmed Yakoob was talking on behalf of brothers Muhammad Fahir Amaaz and Amaad Amaaz, who have been each concerned within the incident.

Footage was shared on-line of a Better Manchester Police (GMP) firearms officer – who has since been suspended – hanging a person twice as he lay susceptible on the ground.

The drive stated the officer’s actions got here after he and different colleagues have been “violently attacked” at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday.

GMP stated it occurred after officers tried to arrest somebody within the airport’s Terminal 2 following a struggle.

A police spokesman stated there was a “clear threat” their weapons may very well be taken from them, and three officers had been taken to hospital, one with a damaged nostril.

The drive stated it understood the “deep issues” that had been “extensively raised”.

4 males, aged 19, 25, 28 and 31, have been later arrested on suspicion of assault and affray, and all have since been bailed.

The footage sparked a protest outdoors Rochdale police station on Wednesday evening, with lots of of individuals gathered, and chants of “disgrace on you” heard – earlier than a second protest started in Manchester metropolis centre on Thursday night.

Mr Yakoob stated the medical situation of the person who was kicked, who he named as Muhammad Fahir Amaaz, had worsened in a single day and “a CT scan has revealed there’s a cyst on his mind”.

The solicitor additionally revealed the brothers are relations of a serving GMP officer.

The Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) regional director Catherine Bates, stated a “strong investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the incident would happen.

She stated the IOPC had since acquired an extra referral from GMP in relation to the incident.

The primary involved the usage of drive by an officer on a person who was detained on the bottom whereas the second “associated to the identical officer’s use of [pepper spray] on one other man on the airport.”

Ms Bates stated: “Now we have met with members of the primary man’s household in the present day, a few of whom have been current throughout the incident, to elucidate our position and to take heed to their issues. We are going to preserve them up to date as our investigation continues.”

Talking outdoors Rochdale police station, Mr Yakoob stated the incident was an instance of “brutality”.

He continued: “The individuals who have been assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s household.

“This man is now afraid to go to work. He went in in the present day and spoke to his supervisor, and the one purpose he isn’t going to work is as a result of he’s fearing for his personal security and he thinks, like his relations have been the victims, he may very well be a sufferer.

“The household are OK however they’re traumatised.”

Mr Yakoob stated he had met with the IOPC however couldn’t go into element because it was within the “early phases” of its investigation.

“For me the primary concern is the household obtain justice, and this not occurs once more,” he stated.

Earlier Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated he understood the general public’s concern over the footage and there was now “a course of” following the suspension of the officer.

Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper stated she shared “the deep concern surrounding the video”.

In an announcement, she stated it was “extraordinarily essential” the police watchdog was capable of start its investigation “swiftly and conduct it totally”.

A second protest started in Manchester metropolis centre on Thursday night, with a crowd gathering outdoors Better Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s places of work in Oxford Avenue, earlier than shifting on to close by St Peter’s Sq..

One of many protestors stated they felt “shocked” and have been compelled to return out to be part of the demonstration, which featured varied anti-police sentiments.

A few of the metropolis’s trams have been unable to function by way of town centre due to sections of the group encroaching on the tracks, with the Bee Community journey agency apologising to passengers.

Mr Burnham earlier instructed BBC Radio Manchester he had seen “the complete footage” that confirmed a “fast-moving and complex state of affairs in a difficult location – it’s not clear reduce”.

“Time has been taken to get a clearer image of what has occurred,” he stated, including that an investigation wanted to proceed now “in a radical and measured approach”.

He added: “I’d ask for calm as a result of what I can guarantee folks is that the correct and correct steps have been taken in the correct approach.”

Newly-elected Rochdale MP Paul Waugh stated he had spoken to the household concerned and their precedence was “the well being and wellbeing of their relations, together with their mom”.

He stated: “The household additionally need me to make it crystal clear that they haven’t any political agenda, don’t condone political violence, and don’t wish to participate in any protests.

“They needed me to enchantment for calm and I hope that enchantment is heeded.

“And whereas there may be clearly deep concern about this incident, there may be additionally a significant want to not let extremists of any type hijack these occasions for their very own ends.”

He added: “It is a onerous working Rochdale household, a few of whose members are law enforcement officials themselves and are subsequently notably shocked at what they’ve witnessed.”

The Better Manchester Police Federation stated it “famous” the choice of the drive to droop the officer.

A spokesman added: “The matter is now beneath investigation – everybody has the correct to a good listening to the place all sides of the story are instructed and context is offered.”