New footage from the Manchester Airport chaos shows a man appearing to punch two female police officers to the ground – just moments before another officer ‘kicked and stamped on a man’s head’.
A clip of the ‘stamp’ went viral on Wednesday and sparked nights of protests and fury towards Greater Manchester Police. The police force has come under intense scrutiny in the days sense, with one police officer suspended pending an investigation.
But a new clip has now emerged which reveals exactly what happened on the day in question – and what led to the officer kicking the man in the head.
As demonstrators protested on the streets of Manchester and Rochdale over the treatment of the Fahir and Amaad Khan, family sources had claimed they were defending their mother.
GMP claimed after the initial encounter its officers were assaulted and ‘punched to the ground’ with three left needing hospital treatment including one female PC who had a broken nose.
The video – obtained by Manchester Evening News -shows three police officers approaching one of the young men as he uses a ticket machine inside a carpark at the busy airport’s Terminal 2, before appearing to try and restrain him.
Another man then approaches the group alongside a woman, seeming to grab one of the cops before a brawl erupts. The pair seem to exchange blows with the cop being driven back into a seat – as the woman trying to hold the man back, before herself falling to the floor.
New CCTV footage shows a brawl erupt minutes before chaos erupted in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport on Tuesday
As the officer is separated from the group, the man who was originally collared breaks free from the female officer and appears to unleash a volley of punches on the women officers
The footage shows both women receiving blows to their heads and faces, with one falling to the ground during the clash. The second woman can also be seen tumbling to the floor as she tries to retreat
As the officer is separated from the group, the man who was originally collared breaks free from the female officer and appears to unleash a volley of punches on the women officers.
The footage shows both women receiving blows to their heads and faces, with one falling to the ground during the clash. The second woman can also be seen tumbling to the floor as she tries to retreat.
The male officer can then be seen holding up his taser towards the man who hit him several times.
He then appears to be jumped on by the man who has been landing blows on the two female officers, landing blows on his head before dragging him away from the other man.
One of the women officers can then be seen approaching the grappling pair with her taser drawn, firing it at the man in blue who releases the man as he lies immobile on the floor.
As he remains headfirst on the ground, the woman initially tried to hold one of the men back goes over to kneel next to him.
It is at this moment that the viral moment appears to occur – with the officer seeming to kick him in the head.
The original clip sparked nights of protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre, with demonstrators claiming the videos showed GMP was racist and calling for it to be ‘defunded’.
One of the women officers can then be seen approaching the grappling pair with her taser drawn, firing it at the man in blue who releases the man as he lies immobile on the floor
The male officer can then be seen holding up his taser towards the man who hit him several times
During the incident, police arrested four men on suspicion of affray and assaulting an emergency worker, before releasing them on bail. One of the policemen involved in the incident has been suspended and the IOPC has received referrals from GMP about two officers.
The new video has been released shortly after the man who was kicked and stamped on by police at Manchester airport issued a ‘plea for calm’ and urged for an end to protests, according to his MP.
Paul Waugh, the newly elected Labour MP for Rochdale, shared a statement written by the family urging people to give those involved ‘time to heal’ and for ‘due process to take its course’.
If follows Reform MP Richard Tice telling the Home Secretary that the men arrested in the bust-up must be prosecuted ‘to the fullest extent of the law’.
The video, filmed at terminal two on Tuesday, showed an officer kick and stamp on the head of a man who was lying face down on the floor, with a woman kneeling beside him. It also appeared to show the officer strike a second man.
Mr Waugh shared an image of the family’s statement on X on Saturday morning and wrote: ‘I have checked with the family of the Manchester Airport incident and this remains their latest message to all communities.
One of the women officers can then be seen approaching the grappling pair with her taser drawn, firing it at the man in blue who releases the man as he lies immobile on the floor
‘They have issued a plea for calm and ask for no further protests – they want due process to take its course and urge everyone to respect their wishes.
‘Yesterday’s meeting in Rochdale made clear that this is a community that strongly believes in the rule of law, that the criminal justice system should follow the evidence wherever it leads, and that offenders should be punished appropriately.
‘Those present also rightly stressed that the law should be applied equally to everyone – and that no one, particularly the police, should be above the law.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Friday that a Greater Manchester Police constable had been advised he was under criminal investigation for assault following the incident.
The officer was also served with a disciplinary notice to inform him he was being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including his use of force, a spokesman said.
On Wednesday, a large crowd protested outside Rochdale police station, reportedly shouting ‘GMP shame on you’, while on Thursday, demonstrators blocked roads and tram lines which started outside Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham‘s office in central Manchester on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mr Burnham said he had met about 40 community partners in Rochdale.
He said: ‘What people here don’t want – and I heard this very clearly in the room this morning – is politicians without possession of the facts exploiting the situation for their own political agenda with zero regard for the effect on the ground in communities in Greater Manchester.
‘I want to finish by repeating the call for calm, particularly over the coming weekend.
‘Things are now moving forward, the right steps are being taken and people’s voices are being heard.
‘It is in everyone’s interests that from here we proceed with things in a measured and a peaceful way.’
Police said when responding to reports of an altercation at the airport, three of their officers were assaulted – including a female police constable who suffered a broken nose – and four men were arrested.
Tice wrote a public letter to Yvette Cooper on Friday urging the Home Secretary to ensure the four arrested face the full force of the law.
He claimed that the ‘assailants hospitalised three police officers and created such severe problems that the officers were compelled to use tasers to subdue them’.
During the incident police arrested four men on suspicion of affray and assaulting an emergency worker, before releasing them on bail.
Mr Tice is the latest politician to wade in on the situation, which has been making headlines over the past week after a video showing the police’s response to the alleged assault of its officers went viral online.
The extraordinary footage showed one officer kick and stamp on the head of a man who was lying face down on the floor, with a woman kneeling beside him.
The video also appeared to show him strike a second man, and it has prompted a public outcry with two nights of demonstrations in Manchester and Rochdale.
The new MP for Boston and Skegness wrote: ‘Anything short of prosecuting the perpetrators to the fullest extend of the law sets a dangerous precedent that police officers cannot defend themselves from violent attacks’
Additional footage shows the moment police arrest two more men after the incident in which a detainee had his head kicked. Here a police officer uses incapacitant spray on one of the men
The officer is then joined by a colleague who grabs one of the men in a headlock in the footage
Demonstrators gathered outside the mayor’s office and claimed the shocking videos showed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was racist and called for it to be ‘defunded’.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog said it had notified the GMP officer that he is facing a criminal probe for assault.
He has also been served with a disciplinary notice that he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged breaches of police professional standards.
The backlash against the alleged ‘brutality’ showcased in the video has led some politicians, such as Keir Starmer to comment that he understood the concern the public ‘rightly have’ over the footage.
But Reform UK Deputy Leader Mr Tice’s letter has placed the blame for the incident firmly on the shoulders of the men involved – not the police.
In a letter, which has been shared on his social media, he wrote: ‘This level of violence against law enforcement is alarming and must be met with a strong and unequivocal response.
‘Anything short of prosecuting the perpetrators to the fullest extend of the law sets a dangerous precedent that police officers cannot defend themselves from violent attacks.’
The man is then wrestled to ground before being put in handcuffs and dragged out of the building
In one piece of footage, taken by one of the men who was arrested, a police officer can be seen pointing a taser at a group of men
The new MP for Boston and Skegness added: ‘Moreover, a lack of consequences in this case would demonstrate that the police are willing to bow to the pressure of rioters.
‘It is crucial to show that this is not the case and that the rule of law will be upheld regardless of the circumstances.
‘Ensuring accountability for such actions will reinforce the message that law enforcement agencies will not be intimidated or undermined by violent behaviour.’
Mr Tice, who was previously a member of the European Parliament from 2019 until the UK left in 2020, continued: ‘I urge you to confirm that you will actively encourage and support GMP in pursuing charges against the assailants for assault and any other laws they have broken.
‘It is crucial that we send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated and that our police officers are protected and respected.’
Demonstrators throw eggs at Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night
Stains from the egg throwing were left on the windows of Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night
Demonstrators throw eggs at Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night
Some protesters built a makeshift barricade outside Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night
Police officers are seen clearing the entrance to Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night
Mr Tice is not the only Reform MP to weigh in on the issue, Lee Anderson posted on social media site X that the ‘vast majority of decent Brits would applaud this type of policing’.
Mr Anderson also told the BBC’s Politics Live: ‘The message I’m getting loud and clear from my constituents is that they are fed up with seeing police dancing around rainbows, and being nice to people and running off from rioters.
‘They want the police to do their job. And I think these police yesterday should be commended. In fact, I would give them a medal.’
However Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has not replied to the letter yet, but said previously she shared the ‘deep concern’ and ‘widespread distress’ over the video.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described the video as ‘very disturbing’ but called for calm.
He urged the public not to rush to judgement on the incident, telling Radio Manchester that it was ‘more complicated’ that had been portrayed.
However Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured at Downing Street this week) has not replied to the letter yet, but said previously she shared the ‘deep concern’ and ‘widespread distress’ over the video
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described the video as ‘very disturbing’ but called for calm
Demonstrators hold Union Flags with the words ‘No Justice No Peace’ in Manchester on Thursday
Chants of ‘We want them sacked’ were heard during a huge protest in Manchester on Thursday
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson (pictured) said in a statement that it was with profound regret that ‘some’ communities after the shocking footage emerged on Wednesday
He also laid blame on investigation constraints as to why bodycam footage of the harrowing airport incident on Tuesday – which saw an officer kick a man in the head – has not been released
On Friday evening the Chief Constable of GMP released a statement laying blame on investigation constraints as to why bodycam footage of the incident on Tuesday has not been released.
His statement read: ‘It is a source of profound regret that this week’s incident at Manchester Airport has caused shock and upset in some of our communities.
‘Throughout this week, senior officers have been meeting with community representatives to ensure their voices are heard and this will continue – we are at one with the best instincts of those engaged in appealing for calm.
He added: ‘Whilst we are constrained in publicly releasing further information or footage about the incident due to the conduct and criminal investigations, we are committed to providing the fullest practical assistance to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’
The full circumstances of the incident are in the process of being investigated, but it has emerged the chaos is now alleged to have followed a mid-air row involving some of the men’s mother.
