Manchester airport: Officer who thrash Pakistanis removed from frontline duty

An armed officer has been removed from frontline policing after footage showed him kicking and beating a man in the face during an arrest at Manchester Airport. The incident, described as “truly shocking” by a senior Greater Manchester police officer, has garnered significant public concern.

The footage, widely shared online on Wednesday, shows the officer pointing his Taser at a man before kicking him forcefully in the face and stamping on his head. The officer is then seen pointing his Taser at a second man, dragging him to the floor, and hitting him on the head.

Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor, commented on X (formerly Twitter) that he saw “no justification” for the officer’s actions and called for “explanation and/or accountability.”

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry addressed the incident, stating: “We know that a film of an incident at Manchester airport that is circulating widely shows an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about. The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm.”

Chaudhry provided context for the incident, explaining that police were called to reports of an assault at Terminal 2, Manchester Airport, at 8:25 PM on Tuesday, July 23. The alleged suspect was seen on CCTV at a ticket machine in the car park, and officers attended the location to arrest him. During the response, three officers were assaulted, with one female officer suffering a broken nose and other officers sustaining injuries that required hospital treatment.

In response to the footage, one male officer has been removed from operational duties, and GMP is making a voluntary referral of their policing response to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault, assaulting an emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police, while two other men have been arrested on suspicion of affray and assaulting an emergency worker.

An IOPC spokesperson confirmed the receipt of a voluntary referral from GMP, which will be assessed to determine further actions.

The Home Office has demanded an explanation of the incident, with Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson stating: “I am aware of disturbing footage from an incident at Manchester airport this afternoon and understand the public concern it has prompted. I have asked for a full update from Greater Manchester police.”