Six unanswered questions over video of Manchester Airport cop kicking man as criminal probe launched
QUESTIONS remain unanswered over the video of a cop kicking a man at Manchester Airport.
An officer is under criminal investigation for assault after the clip of 19-year-old Mohammed Fahir being kicked and stamped went viral.
Greater Manchester Police has referred itself to the IOPC watchdog twice over the officer’s use of force and PAVA spray.
Here are six questions which still remain unanswered amid mounting outrage over the footage.
Where is footage of the moments before the kicking incident?
Footage appeared of a cop stamping and kicking on a man’s head at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening.
But the clip does not show what happened in the moments leading up to the violent scene.
Greater Manchester Police said cops had attempted to arrest a suspect from an earlier altercation.
The force said three cops faced a “violent assault” and were punched to the ground.
A female cop suffered a broken nose and all three officers were taken to hospital.
The altercation was likely caught on the officers’ bodycams – but the footage has not been released.
Why did a man push their mum with a trolley sparking the row?
Fahir and his brother Amaad had reportedly tried to defend their mum after another man allegedly rammed a trolley into her.
A source close to the family said the pair’s mum had been involved in an altercation with the man on her flight from Pakistan.
After they landed at Terminal 2, the man allegedly made racist remarks and pushed the mum with her trolley.
She pointed out the man to Fahir and Amaad, who reportedly confronted him.
Where is that man now and was he questioned?
It is not known who the man was or what sparked the altercation on the flight from Pakistan to Manchester.
Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
But cops have not confirmed the arrested men’s identities and it is not know if the man was one of them or if he was questioned.
What happened to the police bodycam footage?
The viral footage of the kicking incident shows the officers wearing bodycams.
But Greater Manchester Police has not released any bodycam footage.
This is likely because the case is now under investigation by the IOPC police watchdog.
Police footage of arrests and alleged offences is also rarely issued to the media until it has been shown in court.
Normally the public has to wait until sentencing before arrest footage is released.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh told BBC Breakfast he had seen police footage of the incident.
But he said: “I can’t go into those for obvious reasons. There’s a process that has to be followed.”
How badly injured are the men after the altercation with cops?
The family’s lawyer Akhmed Yakoob said one of the men was “fighting for his life”.
Yakoob claimed Fahir had been diagnosed with a “cyst on the brain” and had deteriorated.
He said: “I come from a boxing background and I’ve seen freak injuries like this.
“I’ve seen them in person, live, where a boxing fight finishes and person becomes unwell overnight.”
Yakoob added: “Then they’ve passed away the next day. So we can’t take this lightly.
“The main concern is the safety of that man and later on we will do what we have to do.”
But local MP Waugh said both men have now left hospital following treatment.
He told BBC Breakfast: “Clearly the family members have been hospitalised.
“One of them was taken to hospital for another scan. I’m hoping that they’re on the mend.
“But obviously the after-effects of an incident like this are difficult to assess immediately at the time.”
Labour backbencher Waugh added: “They’re at home, they are not in hospital.”
Why did cops appear to take such forceful action?
In its original response to the footage, Greater Manchester Police said the cops had faced a “violent assault”.
The force said the three officers were “punched to the ground” and risked having their firearms taken.
Today GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “It is a source of profound regret that this week’s incident at Manchester Airport has caused shock and upset in some of our communities.
“Throughout this week, senior officers have been meeting with community representatives to ensure their voices are heard.
“This will continue – we are at one with the best instincts of those engaged in appealing for calm.
“We are constrained in publicly releasing further information or footage about the incident due to the conduct and criminal investigations.
“But we are committed to providing the fullest practical assistance to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he has met Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the IOPC’s regional boss.
Burnham said: “It was agreed that the IOPC investigation now under way will be carried out as swiftly as possible.
“The investigation will involve community stakeholders and will be truly independent.
“The precise arrangements will be set out by the IOPC. I hope this provides further reassurance to people.
“All the right steps are being taken and all relevant issues will be fully considered.
“I hope this gives people confidence in the process as it moves forward.”