Family of man kicked by cop have ‘real concerns’ for injured officers hit 15 TIMES in brawl as their lawyer quits
THE family of a man kicked by a cop during the Manchester Airport brawl have “real concerns” for injured officers who were struck at least 15 times – as their lawyer quits.
TikTok solicitor Akhmed Yakoob was representing brothers Mohammed Fahir Khan, 19, and Amaad, 25, after footage of a policeman stamping on Fahir’s head went viral online.
But he 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.
The family’s new representative said Fahir was “traumatised” and due to have further scans after it was allegedly found he had a cyst on the brain.
They also said the family had “real concern for any police officer injured”, reports the BBC.
Meanwhile, the Government’s independent adviser on political violence Lord Walney said while Fahir acted “disgracefully”, the cop who stamped on him used “excessive force”, reports The Times.
Walney added the new video dispelled misinformation that the police officers had carried out an unprovoked attack.
He went on to say it raised a debate over whether police body-worn camera recordings should be released immediately to aid “transparency”.
“The context is helpful in countering the motive that this was an unprovoked attack on a man minding his own business, but it still looks to me hard to justify that level of repeated force to someone who was already lying on the ground,” he said.
“I recognise that judgements are taken by professionals in the moment and that’s why we have an in-depth professional process involving experts in the field who will look at this.”
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”.
They said on Saturday evening that 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”.
Following Saturday’s fresh clip, lawyer Yakoob said: “I do not promote violence. I have been behind the de-escalation of the whole situation, I urged protesters at Rochdale police station to go home.
“I attended a protest in Manchester city centre where protesters were threatening to stop the trams from operating.
“I urged them not to do so and I calmed them down and they went home.
“I’ve been urging everyone not to attend the protest at Manchester Airport. We are not here to put the public life into difficulty.
“No, we want justice for the family and it will happen.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham previously told BBC Radio 4 the situation is “not clear cut” after outbursts followed the video online.
On Sunday he added: “It is an extremely difficult situation but at least this morning it has moved forward a degree because people now have a fuller picture.
“This is a situation that escalated very quickly, it’s a very violent situation with issues on both sides.
“They key now is that we allow the two investigations to complete their work.
“There is one investigation ongoing into a number of assaults and that is a police investigation for people who are on police bail.
“And there is a second investigation into police conduct.
“That’s why I asked other people not to rush to judgement because of the complexity of it and, simply, everyone who’s having their say, nobody has got all of the facts.
“Nobody is in possession of the complete picture.”
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.