"This man is now afraid to go to work."
The family of a man who was kicked and stomped on by a police officer at Greater Manchester Airport have been left “traumatised”.
Solicitor Akhmed Yakoob is representing brothers Muhammad Fahir Amaaz and Amaad Amaaz, who were both involved in the incident.
Shocking footage showed a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) firearms officer kicking a man in the face before stomping on his head as he lay prone on the floor.
GMP said the officer’s actions had come after he and other colleagues were “violently attacked” at around 8:30 pm on July 23, 2024.
The incident happened after officers tried to arrest someone in the airport’s Terminal 2 following a fight.
A police spokesman said there had been a “clear risk” their weapons could be taken from them, and three officers had been taken to hospital, one with a broken nose.
The force said it understood the “deep concerns” that had been “widely raised”.
Four men, aged 19, 25, 28 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of assault and affray. They have all been released on bail.
The officer has since been suspended.
The footage sparked a protest outside Rochdale Police Station, with chants of “GMP, shame on you” heard.
A second protest was held in Manchester city centre, causing some tram services to be suspended.
Mr Yakoob said Fahir’s medical condition had worsened overnight and a CT scan had “revealed there is a cyst on his brain”.
He also revealed the brothers were family members of a serving GMP officer.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regional director, Catherine Bates, said a “robust investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the incident would take place.
She said the IOPC had since received a further referral from GMP in relation to the incident.
The first concerned the use of force by an officer on a man who was detained on the ground while the second “related to the same officer’s use of [pepper spray] on another man at the airport”.
Ms Bates said: “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.”
JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED??#akhmedyakoob #mauriceandrews #law #legal #justice #2024 #trending #viral #police #court #lawyer #suits pic.twitter.com/9OPCOO0YQF
— Akhmed Yakoob (@Akhmedyakoob1) July 24, 2024
Outside Rochdale Police Station, 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 OK but they are traumatised.”
Mr Yakoob said he had met the IOPC but could not go into detail as it was in the “early stages” of its investigation.
He added: “For me, the main concern is the family receive justice, and this no longer happens again.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understood the public’s concern over the footage and there was now “a process” following the officer’s suspension.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she shared “the deep concern surrounding the video”.
She added that it was “extremely important” the police watchdog was able to begin its investigation “swiftly and conduct it thoroughly”.
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