- Two British-Pakistani brothers brutally attacked at airport.
- Pakistani community outraged after images went viral.
- The Rochdale family is originally from Kotli in Azad Kashmir.
LONDON: The two British-Pakistani brothers brutally assaulted by Manchester police had a heated argument with a fellow passenger after he racially abused their mother during a flight from Qatar to Manchester airport.
The local Pakistani community is outraged after images of the assault shocked the world, and protests are planned until the prosecution and trial of the police officers involved in the worst type of assault ever seen by UK police.
Geo news According to family sources in Manchester, the British-Pakistani family from Rochdale were visiting Qatar and the elderly mother of the two brothers, Ammad and Fahir, was subjected to racial abuse by the passenger on board.
The dispute escalated after the flight landed at Manchester Airport when the brothers confronted the passenger for abusing their mother, as the passenger was exiting after passing through immigration.
The Rochdale family is known to have originated from Kotli in Azad Kashmir.
Akhmad Yaqoob, the lawyer for Ammad and Fahir, said Geo news He cannot comment unless he sees evidence of the allegations made by the police.
“What we know so far is that the Manchester police brutally assaulted them, damaged their bodies, caused them serious harm, humiliated them and acted barbarically.”
The passenger called police after getting into a heated argument and altercation with the brothers. It is unclear whether there is any truth to the allegations made by police that one of the brothers assaulted a police officer before the officer assaulted them.
One source said the passenger and the British-Pakistani brothers physically assaulted each other. The source said the male passenger was of Arab descent, another said it was a female passenger.
A family source said the passenger had hit the brothers' elderly mother with a trolley at the airport and abused her. Police tried to detain one of the brothers, who resisted arrest, calling it unfair.
Ammad and Fahir said Geo news that they were advised not to comment and were too distraught to speak and would let their legal team do the talking until they were back to normal.
Police not only assaulted the brothers, but also arrested and tortured them in the police van on the way to prison, according to their relatives.
Yaqoob said: “We are calling for formal charges to be brought against police officers and justice for victims of police abuse.”
He said Geo news There will be more protests today and they will seek to file a case against the police immediately.
After hundreds of protesters gathered outside Rochdale police station late at night, they were released and taken to hospital.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it understands the “immense sense of worry and concern that people are feeling” after the images from Manchester Airport emerged.
Hundreds of protesters chanted “GMP, shame on you!” in reference to local police and called for the dismissal and prosecution of police officers involved in assaulting, stomping on and kneeing the unarmed brothers.
Wasim Chaudhry, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said one officer “has been removed from operational duties” in connection with the footage. It is understood the officer has not been suspended.
The video, filmed in Terminal 2 of the airport, shows an officer with a stun gun in his hand appearing to kick and then stomp on the head of a man lying face down on the ground, with a woman kneeling beside him. A second man was also struck by the officer while he was standing.
GMP said officers had been responding to reports of an assault at Terminal 2 at 8.25pm on Tuesday.
“The alleged suspect was spotted on CCTV at a ticket machine in the car park and officers rushed to the scene to arrest him,” Chaudhry said.
During the intervention, police said three officers were assaulted. One officer suffered a broken nose, while the other officers were forced to the ground and suffered injuries that required hospital treatment.
GMP also acknowledged concerns about the “conduct within the video” but said officers had arrived at the scene with weapons and there was a “clear risk” that “their firearms would be taken from them” during the altercation.
The force added that four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
Amar, an eyewitness, said he heard screams as he turned the corner in the area. He heard: “You are under arrest, they are looking for you.”
He said he then saw a man “pinned against the wall” before “pushing and elbowing him.”
Amar said he believes that's when the man's brother came “running” and was then pushed to the ground and “kicked” by police.
Manchester Airport said: “We are aware of an incident involving officers from Greater Manchester Police which took place yesterday and as a result the force is investigating the matter.
Responding to the matter, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understands the “concern” over footage that appears to show a police officer kicking a man who is face down. He said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will meet Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the video.
MP Naz Shah said there was “huge and legitimate concern surrounding the viral footage of the incident at Manchester Airport”.
She said she was deeply disturbed and horrified by the sight. “It is important that a thorough and immediate investigation is carried out. IPOC should investigate this incident.”
Labour MP Afzal Khan said he was aware of an incident at Manchester Airport where officers appeared to use excessive force against an unarmed civilian.
“I have spoken to Greater Manchester Police and the local MP and I urge GMP to provide meaningful reassurance to the community and refer the case to the IOPC as a matter of urgency.”
