A controversial TikTok lawyer representing two men who were filmed being violently arrested at Manchester airport has dramatically dropped the case.
Greater Manchester Police was plunged into crisis last week after horrifying footage emerged of an officer kicking Muhammed Fahir, 19, while he was arrested alongside his brother Amaad.
However, a new CCTV clip obtained over the weekend has shed more light on the incident as it shows Fahir attacking three officers just seconds before he was kicked on the ground.
In response, the family’s solicitor Akhmed Yakoob released a video on Instagram on Sunday night, declaring: ‘After consulting with the family I have decided for now to step aside and I have recommended the family to a lawyer’.
He claimed widespread attention surrounding the case was ‘unfair on the Greater Manchester Police and the family’.
Akhmed Yakoob released a video on Instagram on Sunday night, declaring: ‘After consulting with the family I have decided for now to step aside and I have recommended the family to a lawyer’
This is the moment in the original footage that sparked controversy after a police officer was seen kicking the young man on the ground in the head – but new footage has now shown what happened in the moments running up to this
Mr Yakoob pictured outside Rochdale Police Station on Thursday as he announced he was representing two men who were arrested at Manchester Airport on Tuesday
He added: ‘I will be keeping a close eye on this.
‘I would like to say that I am not for violence whether it’s from police officers or it’s from civilians, always remember that.’
The new footage of the officer in question and two female colleagues coming under attack shows ‘we need to protect the protectors’, the Greater Manchester Police Federation has said.
The federation added that the new video casts the incident in a ‘very different light’.
Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, agreed and said the fresh clip gave a ‘different perspective altogether’, adding: ‘We lost over 5,000 colleagues in the year to March voluntarily leaving. Assaulted repeatedly, poorly paid for the risks, slagged-off by clueless idiots.
‘After this week that trend will only accelerate. I don’t blame any of them.’
Yakoob, 36, has 200,000 followers on TikTok and regularly posts videos wearing Prada trainers, a glittering diamond watch, tinted gold-framed sunglasses and Gareth Southgate-like waistcoats.
The Lamborghini-loving father-of-four uses the platform to post polished clips in which he tells followers he is ‘the best defence lawyer in the UK’ and ‘there is a defence for every offence.
He has admitted to using TikTok to find clients and posts videos of his flamboyant lifestyle wearing designer clothing, a glittering diamond watch and tinted gold-framed sunglasses.
Mr Yakoob stood as an Independent candidate in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency on a pro-Gaza, anti-Labour platform at the last General Election. He also has close links to George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain.
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob pictured at the count for the West Midlands Mayoral Election in May where he stood as a pro-Gaza independent candidate
The Birmingham-based solicitor has shared photos of himself online next to a string of expensive cars including Lamborghinis
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob (centre) with Fahir and Amaad Khan. He has said ‘justice must prevail’ after footage of the Manchester Airport incident went viral
But he has courted controversy by teaching people how to frustrate police interviews and bragging about getting a reduced sentence for drug dealers.
The lawyer has been accused of promoting false claims of racism against a teacher, something which has seen him put under investigation by the solicitors’ regulator.
He was also slammed for joking about violence against woman and defending self-style misogynist Andrew Tate.
In response to a fellow podcast guest saying he would give his wife a ‘backhander’ if she made money dancing on TikTok, Mr Yakoob replied: ‘Brother, are you saying if she comes up in your personal space, you will defend yourself?’
He was also slammed for joking about violence against woman and comments made about a number of LGBT issues.
In a video interview broadcast last year, Mr Yakoob was introduced as ‘the most famous solicitor in the world right now’ by Mikey Melin, the host of YouTube documentary channel The Blue Tick Show.
In the interview, Mr Yakoob said: ‘What if a man goes into the ladies’ bathroom and says, ”I’m not a man, I’m a woman”.
‘Well if my wife’s in there I’m sparking him out. And there ain’t no defence for that offence.’ Laughter followed before Mr Melin added: ‘I would accept the time, f*** it, put me inside.’
Mr Yakoob also revealed that he had pulled his children out of state education and put them into an Islamic school because he did not want them being exposed to ‘LGBT messages.’
He insisted that he and any Muslim cannot ‘promote’ positive LGBT issues because doing so is prohibited in their faith – a claim that was condemned by some faith leaders, academics and gay Muslims.
Meanwhile, colleagues of the suspended officer refused to carry their weapons in a show of support.
A source close to the firearms unit told The Sun: ‘There is real anger at the way this has been handled and they didn’t feel they could safely carry their weapons after the officer was suspended.’
They said at the point the officer kicked Fahir’s head, he was ‘disoriented’ from being punched in the face and feared his gun had been snatched.
His shock announcement came just hours after he said that ‘nothing can justify’ the actions shown by police.
New footage has shown the moments before a Greater Manchester Police officer was filmed kicking a teenager in the head at Manchester Airport
The new footage shows Fahir seemingly hitting a female police officer with a punch to her head
As the first officer points his Taser at Amaad, Fahir grabs him from behind in a chokehold
One female police officer can be seen slumped to the ground, while the other is hit by Fahir
The police officers attempt to bring the men under control after the scene descended into chaos
He said: ‘After reviewing the CCTV footage from Manchester Airport, nothing can justify a kick to the head to a defenceless man and a stomp to the head.
‘Those are my views. These officers are highly trained, they shouldn’t be losing control or seeing red.’
GMP said one of the two female police officers suffered a broken nose during the violent assault.
During the melee, two officers were punched to the ground before officers were able to restrain the suspects with Tasers.
The family of the man kicked in the head have said they have ‘real concern for any police officer injured’.
A source representing the family involved told the BBC: ‘If anyone broke the law they should face due process.’
In response to Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham’s calls for people to withhold judgement until they have the full context, they said there is ‘no context justifying an assault when someone is on the ground’.
