Family of man kicked by police left ‘traumatised’
The family of a man who was kicked and stamped on by a police officer at Manchester Airport have been left “traumatised”, a solicitor representing them has said.
Akhmed Yakoob was speaking on behalf of brothers Muhammad Fahir Amaaz and Amaad Amaaz, who were both involved in the incident.
Footage was shared online of a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer – who has since been suspended – striking a man twice as he lay prone on the floor.
The force said the officer’s actions came after he and other colleagues were “violently attacked” at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday.
It happened after officers tried to arrest someone in the airport’s Terminal 2 after a fight.
Four men were later arrested on suspicion of assault and affray, and all have since been bailed.
The footage was described as “shocking” by MPs and other commentators, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating the “level of force” used.
Mr Yakoob said the medical condition of the man who was kicked, who he named as Fahir Amaaz, had worsened overnight and “a CT scan has revealed there is a cyst on his brain”.
The solicitor also revealed the brothers are family members of a serving Greater Manchester Police officer.
Speaking to the BBC outside Rochdale police station, where protests broke out last night in reaction to the incident, Mr Yakoob said the incident was an example of “brutality”.
He continued: “The people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s family.
“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 is because he is fearing for his own safety and he thinks, like his family members were the victims, he could be a victim.
“The family are okay but they are traumatised.
“The main concern for us, for me, is that the family receive justice and this no longer happens again.”
Mr Yakoob added that he had met with the IOPC and could not go into detail as it was in the “early stages”.
“For me the main concern is the family receive justice, and this no longer happens again,” he said.
The Greater Manchester Police Federation said it “noted” the decision of the force to suspend the officer.
A spokesman added: “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.”
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