• New Allegations Emerge as Police at Manchester Airport accused of using excessive force.
• The incident has sparked public outrage and an ongoing investigation.
A deeply troubling narrative is emerging around the Manchester Airport incident, which has sparked widespread outrage and led to an ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The incident, initially captured in a widely circulated video showing a police officer kicking one of the men on the ground, has since unfolded to reveal a more disturbing sequence of events, as described by the family’s solicitor.
According to the solicitor, the incident’s roots lie in an earlier altercation on a flight arriving from Doha to Manchester. The elderly mother of the two men, Muhammad Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad Amaaz, was reportedly subjected to verbal abuse due to her illness during the flight. Upon arrival at baggage claim, this verbal assault escalated into a physical confrontation when a man allegedly struck the woman with his luggage. Witnesses reportedly heard the man insult the elderly woman, calling her a “b**ch” while his own wife urged him to leave her alone.
The sons, upon learning of the assault on their mother, naturally confronted the man. The situation quickly deteriorated, leading to a heated altercation. As the confrontation unfolded, airport police arrived on the scene. However, rather than de-escalating the situation, the police’s actions allegedly exacerbated the violence. According to the family’s solicitor, the officers did not initially identify themselves and used excessive force in detaining the brothers.
The solicitor further alleges that during the scuffle, police turned off their body cameras, a troubling accusation given the importance of transparency and accountability in such volatile situations. The brothers claim that one of them was physically abused after the cameras were switched off, while their mother suffered severe injuries, including a bleeding wound under her eye and significant bruising.
The incident has drawn significant public attention, with protests erupting in Rochdale and Manchester, demanding justice and transparency. The video footage that surfaced shortly after the incident has only fuelled public anger, showing the moment a police officer kicks one of the brothers while he is already subdued on the ground.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has stated that the officers involved were responding to what they perceived as a violent threat, suggesting that there was a risk the brothers could have seized the officers’ weapons. However, the family’s account, supported by their solicitor, paints a different picture—one of unprovoked aggression by both the man at the baggage claim and the police officers who arrived on the scene.
In a subsequent press conference, the solicitor representing the Amaaz family raised further concerns, alleging that the release of a second video showing the buildup to the incident was an attempt to discredit the brothers and skew public perception. The solicitor emphasised that this video, which shows officers being struck, does not capture the entire context and may have been selectively released to prejudice the investigation and public opinion.
As the IOPC continues its investigation, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about police conduct, especially in situations involving minority communities. The solicitor’s allegations, if proven true, would point to serious misconduct, not only in the handling of the incident but also in the subsequent treatment of those involved. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of transparency, the integrity of law enforcement, and the critical need for oversight in cases where force is used.
This situation remains highly charged, with the public, legal experts, and community leaders closely monitoring the investigation’s progress. The outcome will likely have significant implications for the perception of police practices in the UK, particularly concerning how law enforcement interacts with minority groups and the elderly.
As we await further developments, the Amaaz family, along with their solicitor, continue to call for justice and a thorough, unbiased investigation into the events that transpired at Manchester Airport. The stakes are high, not just for those directly involved but for the broader trust in law enforcement and its role in protecting, rather than harming, the public.
