Crowds of protesters block roads and trams in Manchester city centre branding police ‘racist’ and calling for cops to be sacked over airport ‘kicking and stamping’ attack – as watchdog opens second probe and sets up witness hotline

Hundreds of demonstrators have blocked roads and trams in Manchester to protest against the treatment of a man who was filmed being kicked in the head by a police officer during an arrest.

Crowds descended on St Peter’s Square as they marched towards the Town Hall in the city centre, with people demanding the officers involved were sacked, with cries of ‘no justice, no peace’.

It came after protests outside Rochdale Police Station on Wednesday night when footage of the arrest of Fahir and Amaad Khan at Manchester Airport was shared on social media.

In the video Fahir, 19, was seen being kicked in the face and stamped on the head by a police officer, before he and his brother were hauled away by police after an incident in which three PCs were injured, including one female who had her nose broken.

Greater Manchester Police has since suspended one officer involved and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating after receiving two referrals from the force over the incident.

Earlier today Akhmad Yakoob, the lawyer representing the brothers, claimed that Fahir had been diagnosed with a cyst on the brain in hospital after feeling unwell the day after his arrest. 

This has not been independently verified and the cause of the cyst – which is a build-up of fluid in the brain that can be caused by injuries, infections and other diseases – has not been determined.

On Wednesday night there were protests against the treatment of the brothers outside Rochdale Police Station, and these are continuing this evening with demonstrators marching in the streets of Manchester.

The rally, which had campaign group Stand Up To Racism in attendance, saw people calling for the officers involved in the incident to lose their jobs.

Chants of ‘We want them sacked’, ‘No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police’ and ‘What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!’ were heard being shouted by marchers. 

Many at the protest were holding signs saying ‘GMP is racist’, ‘Fight Police Racism’ and ‘Black Lives Matter‘. Some were also carrying Union Flags with the words ‘No Justice, No Peace’ written on them.

One demonstrator was seen raising a placard which read: ‘Serve and protect means GMP will stamp on heads.’

The march has caused chaos in Manchester city centre, with roads blocked meaning traffic was unable to move and protesters staging a sit-in demonstration on tram tracks leaving trams stuck.

The protesters were heading in the direction of the office of Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester who earlier in the day said the incident was ‘not clear cut’ but was ‘disturbing’.

Among the protesters was Sammy Azam, 58, who had travelled with his wife from Nottingham, who described the actions of the officer seen kicking in the video as ‘deplorable’ and ‘unacceptable’.

His wife, who didn’t wish to be named, said: ‘He’s a professional officer.But he acted outside the realm of a professional.

‘It’s almost like this was a personal attack on a young man that had been tasered.

‘I personally believe he [the officer who delivered the kick] should be sacked and the other officers suspended because they failed to intervene.

‘They just stood by and watched him kick the lad.’

Mr Azam said that officers should be judged by certain standards including ‘humility’ and there was ‘no justification’ for what happened in the video.

‘Is it down to the officer or it institutional racism?’ he said.

‘If the video had not come out it would have been his word against the other.

‘There was no justification for what he did at all. The young man was on the floor and was no threat to anyone.’

In an update this evening the IOPC said it has now received two referrals from GMP regarding officers involved in the incident.

Regional director Catherine Bates said: ‘We understand the widespread shock and concern that a video circulated on social media following the arrest of men by Greater Manchester Police at Manchester Airport has caused.

‘We are grateful to those who have already been in touch with us and we have now set up a reporting line so that people who may have witnessed or filmed the incident can contact us. This will help as we build up a detailed picture of what happened on the day.

‘We have also received a further referral from Greater Manchester Police in relation to the incident which took place on Tuesday July 23.

‘The first, received earlier today, concerned the use of force by an officer on a man who was detained on the ground. The second relates to the same officer’s use of Pava spray on another man at the airport.’

The police watchdog said that it had met with the family of Fahir and appealed for witnesses who saw the arrests or the events leading up to it to get in touch. 

Ms Bates added: ‘We have met with members of the first man’s family today, some of whom were present during the incident, to explain our role and to listen to their concerns. We will keep them updated as our investigation continues.

‘We will ensure a robust investigation, independent of police, is carried out to investigate the circumstances that led up to and during the incident at Terminal 2. We know many people have serious questions about what happened and we will work to provide those answers as quickly as we can.’

The IOPC said its investigators have already secured a significant amount of body-worn video and CCTV footage which would be subject to detailed analysis.

‘We will continue to follow other lines of inquiry as the investigation progresses,’ it said.

‘Anyone with information about this incident can contact us by emailing Manchesterairport@policeconduct.gov.uk’

Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, said he had spoken to the family involved and their priorities are the ‘health and wellbeing’ of the men and their mother, as well as the ‘need for justice to be done and seen to be done’.

He added: ‘The family also want me to make it crystal clear that they have no political agenda, do not condone political violence, and do not want to take part in any protests.

‘They wanted me to appeal for calm and I hope that appeal is heeded. And while there is clearly deep concern about this incident, there is also a vital need not to let extremists of any kind hijack these events for their own ends.

‘The family have told me they certainly do not want to become the centre of a media circus either. They want the privacy and time to allow them to heal, physically and mentally.

‘This is a hard working Rochdale family, some of whose members are police officers themselves and are therefore particularly shocked at what they have witnessed.’

It comes after Mr Yakoob, who is representing brothers Fahir and Amaad Khan who were arrested in the incident, said that one of them has been taken to hospital with a cyst on the brain.

The lawyer claimed that Fahir, 19, who was kicked and stamped on by a police officer, began to feel unwell after being released from custody.

He said that the teenager then had a medical scan which found he had a cyst on his brain and said he was now ‘fighting for his life’ in hospital. This has not been independently verified. 

A cyst is a build-up of fluid in the brain which can be caused by traumatic injuries, but can also be formed by pre-existing conditions such as infections and other disease.

Giving an update this afternoon, solicitor Akhmed Yakoob, representing the brothers, said: ‘It was something that hasn’t been seen before, such police brutality.

‘I can tell you now that the people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s family, who is currently serving in the Greater Manchester Police force.

‘This man is now afraid to go to work. He went in today and spoke to his supervisor. And the only reason he is not going to work because he is fearing for his own safety and he thinks like his family members who are the victims, he could be a victim.

‘In relation to the investigation, the IOPC are involved. And I’ve just finished with a meeting from them. The family are okay but they are traumatised.

‘Mohammed Fahir, his medical condition has worsened since last night. A CT scan has revealed there is a cyst on his brain. So please pray for his well being.

‘Right now the main concern for us for me is that the family receive justice and this no longer happens again.

‘Just imagine a first time visitor to the UK and they get to see the brutality from the UK police – they will not want to visit the UK again.

‘Well I wouldn’t if I see that sort of brutality by people who were meant to be the protectors of the public and not aggressors and oppressors.

‘So it’s early stages right now, and I can’t go too much into the actual investigation. But I’m sure everyone here is here because they have seen the videos.’

Mr Yakoob claimed that Fahir and Amaad, along with other members of their family had gathered at the airport to greet their 56-year-old mother who had flown in from Pakistan.

He added that there had been an incident on the plane with another group of passengers which eventually sparked a confrontation at the entrance to the parking area, but did not elaborate about what this was. 

Greater Manchester Police has suspended an officer from all duties pending an investigation, referring itself to the IOPC watchdog, which has vowed to carry out a ‘robust’ investigation.

Former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird described the footage as shocking, adding that the officer was ‘kicking the man’s head like a football’, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham described the video as ‘very disturbing’.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understood the public’s ‘concern’ around the footage. A large protest took place outside Rochdale police station last night – and further rallies are expected tonight outside Mr Burnham’s office. 

Amaad said today: ‘The family’s all shook up with everything that’s happened. You’ve seen what happened to my mum.

‘There’s a lot we’re dealing with, my brother’s still in hospital getting a CT scan. He’s got a black eye.’

He added: ‘My brother is in a bad way. He is very shaken up.’ 

The Khan brothers were filmed being attacked by the officer on Tuesday with footage of the incident sparking fury and angry demonstrations.

In the shocking video, Fahir, 19, who is dressed in a light blue hooded top and shorts can be seen being restrained on the floor as the officer boots him in the head and then stamps on top of it.

His older brother Amaad, 25, is seated a short distance away with his hands cupped behind his head. As he shouts and screams, the same officer who attacked Fahir pulls him to the ground and kicks and punches him.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline from the family home in Rochdale, Amaad said his younger brother had gone to hospital for a CT scan because of the injuries he received to his head and was ‘feeling unwell.’

Amaad said that he did not want to comment on their arrest until he had spoken with the family solicitor.

But the boys’ father, Rabnawaz Khan said: ‘Fahir is in hospital. He wasn’t feeling well so his other brother took him to the hospital. He says he didn’t sleep last night.’

Both of the Khan brothers are known in Rochdale for their charity fund raising efforts during the festival of Eid and have been described as ‘devout,’ and ‘hard working.’

The two are also involved in fundraising efforts with a number of other charitable initiatives in South Asia along with other family members.

In one social media video posted during this year’s Eid festival, Fahir is seen standing in front of a variety of food items and parcels.

He declares: ‘A big thank you to everybody who has donated in the past few days. Yesterday we managed to give out 30 packs to 30 families and inshallah (God willing), today we hope to do the same again.

‘None of this would be possible without all you guys donations and efforts so may Allah reward you all.’

In a post he writes: ‘Today is the last day for collections so if you haven’t had the chance to contribute yet, now is the time! Your donations make a world of difference. Thank you for your generosity.’

GMP said an officer had been suspended from ‘all duties’ following a ‘thorough review of further information that has become available’. It has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for a full investigation.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing the brothers said ‘justice has to prevail’ after hundreds of protesters gathered outside a local police station to accuse the force of racism. Another rally is planned tonight.

Akhmed Yakoob, a director at Maurice Andrews Solicitors in Birmingham, is representing two men, named as Amaad and Fahir, who were filmed being arrested by taser-wielding cops at the airport on Tuesday.

Solicitor Mr Yakoob said he intended to file a complaint of assault on behalf of the pair against the officers, adding: ‘We will be peaceful and we will get justice.’ 

Mr Yakoob claimed in the video the pair had just been released from Cheadle Police Station and made their own way to hospital following the incident.

‘I’ve documented their injuries and we are headed to Rochdale police station to make a formal complaint of assault and wounding against the police officers,’ he said.

GMP acknowledged in an earlier statement that the footage was ‘truly shocking, and that people are ‘rightly extremely concerned about (it)’. 

‘The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm,’ it added.

The force added this morning: ‘We understand the deep concerns that have been widely raised with us, and will continue to meet and discuss these feelings with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives, whilst this independent investigation takes place.’ 

The IOPC has vowed to conduct a ‘robust’ investigation, providing updates throughout. 

Regional director Catherine Bates said: ‘We appreciate the footage which was shared on social media has attracted widespread shock and concern. 

‘It is vitally important we investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. We are independent of the police and our investigation will be thorough and robust.

‘We appreciate people want answers and we will work to provide those answers as quickly as we can. Updates will be provided as our investigation progresses.’

In an earlier statement GMP had said there was a ‘clear risk’ that armed officers’ weapons might be taken from them. It said the officers had been responding to reports of an ‘altercation’ between members of the public in Terminal 2.

A statement read: ‘Whilst attempting to arrest one of the suspects of the earlier altercation, three officers were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground.

‘A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three were taken to hospital for treatment. As the attending officers were firearms officers, there was a clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken from them.

‘Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers. We acknowledge the concerns of the conduct within the video, and our Professional Standards Directorate are assessing this.’

But campaigners from Manchester Stand Up To Racism have accused police of racism, organising a ‘We won’t stay quiet against racist police violence’ rally for later today after hundreds gathered outside Rochdale police station yesterday. 

Mr Yakoob and GMP were contacted for further comment.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he ‘understood’ the concern around the video.

The PM’s official spokesperson later told reporters: ‘He understands the concern that members of the public rightly have in relation to that video.

‘The public rightly expect a high standard of conduct from our police and it is right that the police have reported themselves to the IOPC.’

And Dame Vera Baird, a former police and crime commissioner and national victims’ commissioner, told BBC Radio 5 Live the actions of the officer appeared to amount to little more than ‘gratuitous violence’.

She told Nicky Campbell: ‘There are a number of police around, they have tasers, they have handcuffs and they can restrain him in a sensible fashion but keeping his arms behind his back and keeping him down.

‘But instead, he is kicked in the head with presumably police boots on. I think the officer is lucky he hasn’t done some serious harm to this individual and then he appears to be gratuitously stamped on the head.

‘I don’t know anybody who behaves in that way and it is pretty shocking to find that a firearms officer does because it smacks of being out of control. 

‘It’s very worrying that somebody who behaves like that is ordinarily armed by a gun with the police and given the power to use it. 

‘So I do think whatever has gone on before, there really can be very little excuse for this conduct. The man is on the floor.

‘He either has been tasered or he’s handcuffed but he is face down. The officer runs at him and kicks him like a football and then stamps on his head.

‘There is nothing about split second judgements and how stressful and pressured people are, these are officers who have guns and all the power.’

Further protests are expected to take place outside Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s office at 6pm, as they call on him to act on the alleged ‘police brutality’.

Mr Burnham, newly re-elected in May, has appealed for ‘calm’ ahead of further protests, saying the incident was a ‘fast-moving and complicated situation’.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Burnham said the footage was ‘very disturbing’ but that he had since viewed fuller video of the incident and that the circumstances were ‘not clear-cut’, with ‘issues for both sides in the situation’.

He added: ‘That said, here’s where I want to be really clear: it is right that the officer has been suspended. That is the right action, it is abundantly clear to me that the right steps have been taken.

‘I would ask for calm because what I can assure people is that the right and proper steps have been taken in the right way.’

He has urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed in a ‘thorough and measured way because it has to be fair to everyone in the situation’.

‘It doesn’t detract from what I said at the start – these are disturbing images, they are, and the right steps have been taken here by Greater Manchester Police – but we’ve all, from there, got to recognise that there is a process now that needs to be followed,’ he said.

‘I don’t think it’s right for people to say it’s all one thing, it’s all another thing, because, from what I’ve seen, it isn’t that, it’s more complicated than that.’

Reform MP Lee Anderson posted on social media site X that the ‘vast majority of decent Brits would applaud this type of policing’, while Mr Tice told TalkTV the video was ‘reassuring’ rather than ‘distressing’.

But Mr Burnham appeared to suggest the pair were ‘rushing to judgment’, adding: ‘Society is not helped by politicians rushing to join the clamour.’

Greater Manchester Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, said it had noted the suspension of the officer involved.

A spokesman said: ‘The matter is now under investigation – everyone has the right to a fair hearing where all sides of the story are told and context is provided.

‘As their staff association, we are supporting the officer concerned, and all of our colleagues who were involved in this incident, including those who were injured.

‘We would also like to thank the many members of the public who have contacted us offering support for our hard-working colleagues doing a difficult and dangerous job. It is appreciated.’

But Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, said the actions of the officers in the video were ‘shocking’ and ‘absolutely appalling’.

Mr Babu told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Police can use force it has to be proportionate and necessary. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had guns pulled on me, knives pulled on me and you can use reasonable force like striking (with a) baton, that’s perfectly reasonable.

‘But what we’ve seen in that video clip is somebody lying prone on the floor and then a police officer coming and striking, kicking him in the head with heavy duty boots and then stamping on his head and then going to another person who has got his hands up in a defensive position, being dragged to the floor and then that individual has been kicked.

‘What is equally worrying is what appears to be a middle aged woman who is trying to calm the situation down is then shoved and pushed by a number of police officers.

‘More and more elements of this video is emerging and its hardly surprising that you’ve got demonstrations outside Rochdale police station.’

He added: ‘I think it is about the culture. Here we have a unit of white officers in specialist departments and a group of Asian people and the force used against them is totally excessive and I think racism played a significant part in this.’

‘I think what’s quite worrying is that GMP then put forward a senior Asian officer there is a little bit of a cynical attempt to try and say ‘look we’re dealing with this’.

The man being kicked in the video, now named as Fahir, is from Rochdale and late last night hundreds of people gathered outside the town’s main police station to protest the treatment of those who were arrested.

During the demonstration speakers labelled the police ‘institutionally racist’ and the lead crowd in chants of ‘GMP, shame on you’, with cries of ‘Allahu Akbar [God is greatest]’ and ‘f*** the police’ also heard.

One man holding a megaphone was hear telling listeners to remain peaceful at the protest, before adding ‘but tomorrow if we don’t get justice, these motherf*****s are gonna get it’. 

A local Imam was seen trying to calm tensions within the crowd, telling them: ‘Rioting, being upset, is what these brothers want you to do. All I am asking is for you not to take the law into your own hands, be respectable citizens like our parents have taught us.’

Paul Waugh, the town’s newly elected Labour MP, said on social media site X that he had spoken to the family involved and would meet them in person tomorrow.

He wrote: ‘The video footage of a Greater Manchester police officer kicking and stamping on a man in Manchester Airport is truly shocking and disturbing.

‘Like many who have seen this clip, I am extremely concerned. I have had it confirmed that the man arrested is a Rochdale resident.

‘I have expressed my concerns directly to the Assistant Chief Constable this evening and have been in touch with Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for policing of Greater Manchester.

‘It’s right that the police officer concerned has been removed from duties and that this incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. I expect a thorough and swift investigation.

‘The police have said that while trying to arrest a suspect, three of their officers were attacked. They said that one officer suffered a broken nose and all three needed hospital treatment.

‘Our armed police face a very difficult job every day, and will themselves expect the highest standards of conduct from their officers in carrying out that vital duty to protect all of us.

‘It’s important that both the investigation by the police and the investigation into the police conduct now gather the full facts.’

George Galloway, the former MP for Rochdale, claimed on X that one of the men who was arrested had family members in the police.

He said: ‘I spoke at some length to both the uncle and the brother of those who were savagely assaulted on the videos that you’ve seen. Both the uncle and the brother are serving police officers. 

‘This is important. This is a police family that was severely beaten by the police, stamping on their faces while they lay helpless and unresisting on the floor, kicking them in the head with police boots while they lay unresistant, helpless on the floor.’

The angry crowd gathered after video showing the arrests of four men at Manchester Airport on Tuesday night was shared online yesterday afternoon.

GMP said the men were detained on suspicion of a number of offences, including assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray and obstructing police.

In the video, a man wearing blue shorts and a blue top – now identified as Fahir – is seen lying on the floor with his hands behind his back while an older woman kneels next to him. 

Behind the pair a man wearing a grey top and shorts sits on a chair with his hands above his head. He has been named as Amaad.

A male police officer who is holding a Taser then kicks the man who is on the floor in the face, before appearing to stamp on the back of his head as he turns away from the officer.

This sparks outrage from people watching the scene who can be heard shouting at the police ‘stop kicking people’ and ‘you’re on camera’. A female police officer can be seen pushed people who are filming away from the man.

In the background an officer can be seen shouting ‘get down, get down’ at the man sat in the chair. The man is then pushed to the ground by two officers and placed in handcuffs.

At this point the woman, who can be seen wearing a blue dupatta headscarf can be seen wandering confusedly between the two men, who are believed to be her sons. She is then pushed away by a female officer.  

Other footage which appears to have been taken after the two men were taken away by officers appears to show police cornering a group of people in the same concourse.

In the video one officer who has his Taser out is seen pointing at a man and saying: ‘You’re going to get locked up.’

At this point one of the officers fires his incapacitant spay at one of the men, before he and another policeman grab hold of the man and wrestle him to the floor.

The men are then dragged away out of the building by officers towards a waiting police vehicle. 

Amar Rafiq, who filmed some of the original video, was returning to Manchester from Qatar when he saw the incident unfold in front of him.

He told MailOnline: ‘I walked out to the concourse where the incident was taking place. The officer had the man put up against the wall, he was trying to push and shove the officer.

‘Moments later the other guy that had been there punched the officer, then they took both of them to the ground. They (police) were saying ‘you’re under arrest’.’

He said that was when he started filming, capturing the moment one of the men appeared to be kicked in the head. 

Mr Rafiq said: ‘I was just gobsmacked. The police (officer) just kicked the guy in the face.

‘Everyone was worried about themselves, they started panicking and rushing away, they feared they would be attacked.’

He added he did not see what happened to the men or the woman accompanying them because officers sent everyone away from the scene. 

Mr Rafiq said at least ten officers were present at the time.

In a statement issued last night, Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said the force understood why the video of the arrests ‘created alarm’. 

He said: ‘We know that a film of an incident at Manchester Airport that is circulating widely shows an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about. The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm.

‘In advance of what is shown in the footage available, we were called to reports of an assault at Terminal 2, Manchester Airport at 8.25pm on Tuesday 23 July.

‘The alleged suspect was seen on CCTV at a ticket machine in the car park and officers attended the location to arrest him.

‘During our response, three officers were assaulted. One female officer suffered a broken nose and the other officers were forced to the ground and suffered injuries which required hospital treatment.’

But the force has already faced fierce criticism online over the clip, with former Chief Prosecutor for the northwest Nazir Afzal saying: ‘Obviously don’t have the whole picture but I see no justification for the kick in the head, followed by a stamp and a Taser on a prone, unarmed man with his hands by his side.’

Manchester Airport declined to comment.