Today: April 24, 2025
July 26, 2024
4 mins read

Police officer suspended after airport kicking video

The footage showed a uniformed male officer holding a Taser over the man who was lying on the ground at Terminal 2 before kicking him twice at about 20:30 BST…reports Asian Lite News

A police officer has been suspended after a video circulated online of a man being kicked and stamped on the head at Manchester Airport.

An officer had been removed from all duties after a “thorough review of further information” of the incident, which took place on Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police confirmed.

The footage showed a uniformed male officer holding a Taser over the man who was lying on the ground at Terminal 2 before kicking him twice at about 20:30 BST.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who has met the home secretary over the incident, has appealed for calm. After the meeting, Yvette Cooper said she understood the “the widespread distress” the footage had caused, adding she had spoken to police about the “urgent steps” they are taking.

She said it was “essential” police had the trust of communities, and the public “rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe”. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it understood the “deep concerns” that had been “widely raised”.

The footage sparked a protest outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday night, with hundreds of people gathered, and chants of “shame on you” heard. In the build-up to the incident shown in the clip, a police spokesman said that firearms officers had been punched to the ground after trying to make an arrest following a fight in the airport.

There was a “clear risk” their weapons could be taken from them, the police spokesman said, adding all three had been taken to hospital, one with a broken nose. Four men were later arrested on suspicion of assault and affray, and all have since been bailed. It remains unclear what led to the incident, but Burnham said he thought there had been “an issue on a flight coming into Manchester”.

“When the flight landed, two individuals were waiting for their mum, who said there had been an issue,” he said. “She pointed somebody out and there was an altercation in the arrivals hall.”

He said those involved had been “followed by camera through the airport and then we get to the scene that people have seen in the car park area”. Burnham said he had seen “the full footage” that showed a “fast-moving and complicated situation in a challenging location – it’s not clear cut”.

“Time has been taken to get a clearer picture of what has happened,” he said, adding that an investigation needed to proceed now “in a thorough and measured way”. Anderson remarks on airport video irresponsible – Burnham Amar Minhas from Leeds was travelling through the terminal with his family when he saw officers approach the man to arrest him.

“They pinned him up against a wall”, he told the BBC, before another man tried to intervene and a fight broke out, with the pinned man throwing punches until he was Tasered to the floor, when the officer kicked him.

Prime Minster Keir Starmer has said he “completely understands” the public’s concern over the footage. Starmer said the home secretary was being kept updated. Former chief superintendent of the Met Police, Dal Babu, said the police actions were “appalling and unnecessary” and in his opinion racism played a part in the incident.

He said the men were arrested for affray and assault, not offences at the “serious end” like attempted murder, gross bodily harm, or malicious wounding.

“I think racism played a significant part in this,” he said, adding GMP had been “slow out of the block in understanding the seriousness” of the incident at a time when trust in police was “so low”. Outside view of Rochdale police station. A blue sign with a police badge says Rochdale Divisional Headquarters.  Crowds gathered to protest outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday night

The force said in its latest statement that it would “continue to meet” with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives to discuss concerns raised about the footage.

It said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the incident.

The MP of the man who was filmed being kicked told the House of Commons the video was “truly shocking and disturbing”.

ALSO READ-Climate activists paralyse air traffic at German airport

Previous Story

Hate preacher Anjem convicted for leading terror group

Next Story

Paris Dazzles World With Colourful Olympics Opening Ceremony

Latest from Top News

New Homes to Ease Housing Strain

Haringey will purchase 29 new homes in Wood Green to ease housing pressures, offering high-quality, energy-efficient accommodation for families and individuals affected by London’s growing homelessness crisis In a move to tackle

Fewer Pupils, Tough Choices

The affected schools are St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School, St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Oldhill Community School, and Sir Thomas Abney Primary School Four Hackney primary schools will close permanently

1,000th Home Gets Facelift in Greenwich

The honour of being the 1,000th recipient went to Sheila Hassett, a long-time resident of Blackheath who has lived in her home for 37 years A major milestone has been reached in

Why Harvard needs to defeat Trump

The Trump administration has also frozen $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard and threatened to strip the university of its tax-exempt status and take away its ability to enrol foreign students…writes Mihir
Go toTop

Don't Miss

‘Young people who refuse to work will lose benefits’  

Work and pensions secretary says she will transform opportunities as

Jaishankar holds talks with UK Foreign Secretary

EAM Jaishankar had sit-down meetings with some leaders and quick