Following the circulation of a video online showing a man being kicked and stamped on the head at Manchester Airport, a police officer has been suspended from all duties. The Greater Manchester Police confirmed the suspension and said that a “thorough review of further information” of the incident – which took place on Tuesday – had led to the decision. In the video, uniformed male police officers can be seen holding a Taser over the man lying on the ground at Terminal 2 and striking him twice.
The incident led to a protest outside Rochdale police station where hundreds of people could be heard chanting “shame on you”. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has appealed for calm and said that the suspension of the officer was the “right action”. However, he added that after seeing “the full footage” of the incident he believed that the situation was “fast-moving and complicated in a challenging location, it’s not clear cut”. Mr Burnham emphasized that the investigation must proceed “in a thorough and measured way.”
Prior to the incident shown in the footage, a fight had broken out in the airport. Firearms officers were punched to the ground after trying to make an arrest and their weapons were at risk of being taken from them. All three officers were taken to the hospital, with one suffering a broken nose. Four men were arrested on suspicion of assault and affray.
The Greater Manchester Police said it understood the “deep concerns” that were “widely raised” and is continuing to meet with residents and elected representatives to discuss the situation. The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in response to the incident. Former chief superintendent of the Met Police, Dal Babu, called the police actions “appalling and unnecessary” and suggested that racism played a part in the incident
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