The family of a man who was struck in the head by police at Manchester Airport has called for “calm in all communities,” according to Rochdale MP Paul Waugh.
He emphasized that the “traumatized” family has no political motives and does not endorse any political violence.
A video circulating online shows a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer, now suspended, kicking and stomping on a man lying on the ground.
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The police stated that the officer’s actions followed a violent attack on him and his colleagues in Terminal 2’s car park around 20:30 BST on Tuesday.
The video sparked protests outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with another protest taking place in Manchester city center on Thursday. Mr. Waugh mentioned that the family seeks privacy and will not participate in protests or media interviews.
He conveyed the family’s message on BBC, stressing their lack of political agenda and their appeal for calm among Rochdale’s diverse communities, noting the town’s history of division.
The family is aware that extremists might exploit the incident, but they do not support such agendas.
The incident occurred when officers attempted to arrest someone at the airport after an earlier altercation. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, having reviewed extended footage, explained that the confrontation began following an issue on a flight arriving in Manchester.
He recounted that two people were waiting for their mother, pointed someone out to her, and a scuffle ensued in the arrivals hall, leading to the scene captured in the car park.
A police spokesperson highlighted the risk of the officers’ firearms being seized, with three officers hospitalized, one suffering a broken nose. Four men, aged 19, 25, 28, and 31, were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault and later released on bail. GMP acknowledged the widespread concerns raised by the footage.
Solicitor Akhmed Yakoob, representing Muhammad Fahir Amaaz, the man who was kicked, reported his client’s condition worsened by Wednesday night, with a Thursday CT scan revealing a brain cyst. Mr. Waugh stated that all family members received hospital treatment and are now recovering at home, although one required an additional scan.
Rochdale Councillor Minaam Ellahi, present at one protest, acknowledged the public’s justified anger and their demands for action and solidarity. He noted the peaceful nature of the protest, attributing it to eroding trust in the police.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated a “robust investigation” following two referrals from GMP. The first concerns the force used by an officer on a detained man, and the second relates to the same officer’s use of pepper spray on another individual at the airport. The IOPC has called for witnesses to assist in the investigation.
Mr. Waugh remarked on the complexity and fast pace of the incident, condemning the officer’s actions seen in the video. He urged for a thorough yet swift IOPC investigation, assuring that the family’s encouragement comes from the IOPC’s independence from the police.
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