Top human rights lawyer to represent the family of man kicked by cop at Manchester Airport after TikTok solicitor quit
A TOP human rights lawyer will represent the family of a man kicked by a cop at Manchester Airport after a TikTok solicitor quit.
Aamer Anwar is representing brothers Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad, who were involved in an altercation with armed police officers in Terminal 2 of the airport on Tuesday.
It comes as TikTok solicitor Akhmed Yakoob – who was representing Fahir and his brother Amaad, 25 – has quit.
Greater Manchester Police was plunged into crisis last week after footage emerged of an officer kicking Fahir, 19, while he was arrested alongside his brother Amaad.
But Yakoob dropped the case when new footage emerged over the weekend revealing the cop and two female colleagues received a barrage of blows to the head in the seconds before the incident.
One officer remains suspended and is under criminal investigation, said the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Replacing Mr Yakoob, Glasgow-based Mr Anwar said there was no justification for the use of force by the officer in a statement on Monday.
He said: “If certain police officers behave like this in an area full of CCTV and in the presence of so many witnesses, then it really begs the question of what they are capable of when there is no such evidence.
“Highly trained police officers can never use provocation or emotion to justify the use of excessive, illegitimate and potentially lethal force.”
The 56-year-old said: “I am instructed on behalf of Fahir Amaaz, Muhammad Amaad, their mother and family in respect of the incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday, 23rd July 2024.
“The family request no media representatives attend their home, all contact is to be made through their lawyer.
“I have spoken to the IOPC with regards to lodging a formal complaint and expect all CCTV and police bodycam footage to be retained. There can be no excuse for any footage to inadvertently disappear.”
Defending the two brothers, Mr Anwar added: “The officer has discharged a Taser, the suspect is lying incapacitated on the floor.
“No police officer in that situation has a right to take a running kick to his head and then stamp on him as well.
“The family have made it clear that all communities should remain calm over what happened, and they have expressed their concerns for the health of the officers involved.
“They have said that if a family member has committed a criminal offence then they should face due process.
“But that doesn’t excuse unlawful actions by the police. The officers need to answer for their actions.”
His statement comes after Mr Yakoob, a lawyer based in Birmingham who has grown to prominence by making TikTok videos, said he would no longer represent the family.
“You may have seen the various media reports about me in the last couple of days,” he said.
“The media have tried to sabotage me, it’s not the first time they have done this but they have made this whole situation about me, rather than police brutality and police misconduct, which is unfair on the GMP and the family.
“So after consulting with the family I have decided for now to step aside and I have recommended the family to a lawyer but I will be keeping a close eye on this.
“I like to say that I am not for violence whether it’s from police officers, whether it’s from civilians, always remember that.”
The new footage emerged showing the chaotic scenes leading up to the arrest in a car park at Terminal 2 on Tuesday, July 23.
The video shows two men and several police officers involved in a violent altercation.
An officer can be seen attempting to restrain one of the men before punches appear to be thrown by both parties.
One man, dressed in light blue, who had initially been detained, manages to break free and lands several punches on the female officers present.
The footage then shows both women receiving blows to the head and face, with one being punched to the ground and kicked while down.
It comes as other airport cops are refusing to carry weapons on duty in protest.
A source said the officer – who has been suspended – was “disoriented” after being punched and believed his gun had been stolen in the chaos.
Greater Manchester Police Federation said “we need to protect the protectors”, adding the new footage cast the incident in “a very different light”, reports The Telegraph.
Over the weekend, Greater Manchester Police declined to say why the brothers, from Rochdale, had not been charged in light of the evidence.
It is understood that due to the publicity around the case and the police appeal for witnesses, any potential charges may take longer than usual.
The officers involved were armed and reacted forcefully amid fears their weapons could be taken, the force previously said.
The incident on Tuesday sparked two nights of protests.
GMP said the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the use of force.
Manchester cops confirmed on Wednesday that two men were arrested on suspicion of “assault, assault of emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police”.
Full 'blow by blow' account of row
Tuesday, July 23
A police source told the Mail on Sunday that Fahir Muhammed Amas, 19 – the man who was kicked in the face – and his brother Amaad, 25, had travelled to the airport to meet their mum.
She had travelled from Pakistan via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight – where ‘words were exchanged’ between her and a male passenger while onboard.
The flight landed at 7.20pm, and the argument continued into the baggage hall of Terminal 2.
The male passenger then allegedly pushed his trolley into Fahir and Amaad’s mum, according to the Mail’s source.
Then at 8.22pm, the woman met her sons and told them about the incident on the flight.
A “violent altercation” is then said to have erupted at a Starbucks coffee shop at the terminal.
Around six minutes later at 8.28pm, a male officer and two female cops intercepted the family at the car park ticket machines.
Disturbing scenes then unfolded as Fahir can be seen in new footage resisting police after they approached him.
In the clip, Fahir then appears to land a blow to a female officer’s face, breaking her nose.
He goes on to knock down a second woman cop in sickening scenes.
Brother Amaad then looks to be throwing “full-blooded” punches at a male armed officer as he slumps back into a chair.
Fahir seemingly joins Amaad, punching the same bobby before grabbing him by the neck in a “chokehold”.
The teenager’s grip was only released when one of the female officers tasered him.
A source claimed the male officer suffered a suspected broken jaw.
Wednesday, July 24
The original video, which sparked major uproar and mass protests in Manchester, was shared on social media and showed a male cop stamping on Fahir’s head as he lies on the floor.
A woman in a headscarf kneels next to him as the cop stands above them, holding a taser.
Manchester cops confirmed that two men were arrested on suspicion of “assault, assault of emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police”.
Protesters gathered outside Rochdale Police Station late in the evening.
TikTok lawyer Akhmed Yakoob posted a video to X with brothers Fahir and Amaad Khan, confirming he was representing the family in the case.
Thursday, July 25
GMP confirmed it had referred itself to police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The IOPC received two referrals – one for the use of force and the other regarding the same officer reportedly using his PAVA, which is similar to pepper spray.
The force confirmed the cop had been suspended and has since said he is under criminal investigation.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham previously told BBC Radio 4 the situation is “not clear cut” after outbursts followed the video online.
Fahir has a cyst on his brain with symptoms “worsening overnight”, his family lawyer revealed.
Saturday, July 26
Further footage was released showing the brothers allegedly assaulting officers during the incident.
Police said in response they are “investigating and appealing for witnesses in relation to three incidents that occurred on the evening of Tuesday 23rd July 2024 in Manchester Airport Terminal 2”.
Yakoob confirmed he had dropped the case.