The family of a man who was kicked in the head by police at Manchester Airport has appealed for calm among all communities, according to Rochdale MP Paul Waugh. The family wanted to emphasise they had no political agenda and did not support political violence. Footage of the incident showed a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer kicking and stamping on a prone man on the floor after he and other officers were “violently attacked” in Terminal 2. Protests have taken place after the online footage sparked anger.
Rochdale Councillor Minaam Ellahi attended one of the protests and said that people were angry and want action taken. He claimed people were raising concerns with police and that protests have been peaceful so far. The family members involved in the incident have been treated in hospital and are now recovering at home. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has pledged to carry out a “robust investigation” after receiving two referrals from GMP. One relates to the force used by an officer who detained a man on the ground and the second concerns the use of pepper spray on another man during the incident. The IOPC have appealed for witnesses.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said that “an issue” occurred on a flight coming into the airport. After the flight had landed, two people were in the arrivals hall “waiting for their mum”. The mother pointed somebody out, resulting in an altercation in the arrivals hall. The people involved then were followed by a camera through the airport as the altercation continued, ultimately resulting in the violent incident seen in the video footage. Three officers were taken to hospital, one with a broken nose, and there was a “clear risk” they could have had their weapons taken, according to police.
MP Waugh noted the complexity of the incident and hoped the IOPC investigation would be “thorough” but “quick”. He encouraged the family by saying the IOPC are independent of the police force. The force insisted it understood the “deep concerns” raised by the footage. The family involved in the incident said they would not attend any protests or media interviews to maintain their privacy but called for calm among all the different communities.
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