"it's not the first time they've done this."
The solicitor who has been representing the family at the centre of the Greater Manchester Airport incident has announced that he is “stepping down”.
Akhmed Yakoob has regularly spoken to the media since footage showed a man being kicked in the head by an officer while being detained.
Protests subsequently took place in Rochdale and Manchester city centre, with demonstrators claiming it was a case of police brutality.
However, new footage appeared to show what led to the incident.
It showed a violent brawl that included one of the detained men punching a female officer.
Birmingham-based solicitor Akhmed Yakoob has nearly 210,000 TikTok followers and was reportedly representing the family.
In a video, he has now announced he is “stepping aside” and has “recommended a lawyer” for the family involved.
Mr Yakoob said: “The media have tried to sabotage me, it’s not the first time they’ve done this.
“They’ve made this whole situation about me and not police misconduct.
“So, after consulting with the family, I have decided for now to step aside and I have recommended the family to a lawyer.
“But, I will be keeping a close eye on this. I’d like to say that I am not for violence, whether it’s from police officers or whether it’s from civilians. Always remember that.”
BREAKING NEWS??#akhmedyakoob #mauriceandrews #law #legal #justice #2024 #trending #viral #police #court #lawyer #suits pic.twitter.com/UocE4pDaij
— Akhmed Yakoob (@Akhmedyakoob1) July 28, 2024
The new footage showed the chaotic scenes leading up to the arrest that took place in a car park at Terminal 2 on July 23, 2024.
The clip depicts two men and several police officers involved in a violent altercation.
One officer can be seen attempting to restrain one of the men before punches appear to be thrown by both parties.
One man, dressed in light blue, who had initially been detained, manages to break free and lands several punches on the female officers present.
The footage then shows both women receiving blows to the head and face, with one being punched to the ground.
An officer is seen pointing a taser at one of the men before appearing to kick and stamp on his head as he lies on the ground.
The officer is now under criminal investigation for assault over the incident.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has urged the public not to rush to judgment following the release of the new footage.
He previously stated that he had viewed the “full footage” leading up to the incident. He described the situation as not being “clearcut”, explaining that a “serious incident” had occurred prior to the situation escalating “very quickly”.
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