Second police officer under investigation over airport kick

A Second Greater Manchester Police offi­cer is under a criminal investigation for assault over an incident which saw a man kicked while lying on the floor at Manchester Airport, the po­lice watchdog has said.

Footage shared online last month showed Muhammad Fahir Amaaz being struck by a firearms officer after he and his brother were arrested following a violent clash with police on 23 July.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on 26 July a police constable was under criminal investigation in relation to the events.

A further referral from the Greater Manchester force, received on Monday, included a complaint “detailing several allegations, from one of the people involved”, the IOPC said, which had led to a second officer being investigated.

The IOPC said the second of­ficer was also being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged breaches of police professional standards including their use of force.

Greater Manchester Po­lice (GMP) said it was “fully committed to supporting” the police watchdog’s independent investigation.

Footage of the kick incident led to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre and a police constable was later sus­pended.

GMP previously said its firearms officers were subject to a “violent” attack while trying to make an arrest at Terminal 2 and there was a risk their weap­ons could be taken from them.

A further video later emerged showing the build up to the kicking incident involved a fight in which officers were punched to the ground.

Four men, including the two brothers, were arrested for assault and affray and remain on police bail.

On Monday, lawyers for Fahir Amaaz’s family, who are from Rochdale, made further allega­tions of mistreatment.

Solicitor Aamer Anwar alleged officers approached Mr Amaaz without identifyIng themselves and claimed they hit his head into the ticket machine by grabbing his neck.

The solicitor said he was thrown to the ground and knelt on by an officer, who they allege threatened to “kill him”, after he was detained.

He said this happened in an area of the airport terminal without cameras.

—BBC

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