BBC
A second Greater Manchester Police officer is under a criminal investigation for assault over an incident which saw a man kicked while lying on the floor at Manchester Airport, the police watchdog has said.
Footage shared online last month showed Muhammad Fahir Amaaz being struck by a firearms officer after he and his brother were arrested following a violent clash with police on 23 July.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on 26 July a police constable was under criminal investigation in relation to the events.
A further referral from the Greater Manchester force, received on Monday, included a complaint “detailing several allegations, from one of the people involved”, the IOPC said, which had led to a second officer being investigated.
EPA
The IOPC said the second officer was also being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged breaches of police professional standards including their use of force.
Footage of the incident led to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre and a police constable was later suspended.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) previously said of the incident that their firearms officers were subject to a “violent” attack while trying to make an arrest at Terminal 2 and there was a risk their weapons could be taken from them.
A further video later emerged showing the build up to the kicking incident involved a fight in which officers were punched to the ground.
Four men were arrested for assault and affray following the incident.
On Monday, lawyers for the family of Fahir Amaaz made further allegations of mistreatment.
Solicitor Aamer Anwar claimed he was also threatened by a police officer, thrown to the ground and had his neck knelt upon.
He said this happened in an area of the airport terminal without cameras.
In response to the fresh allegations, GMP said it was “fully cooperating” with the police watchdog’s independent investigation.
In a new statement released earlier, the force said it understood there was “continued public interest and concern” over a series of incidents, adding it was “making good progress” in investigating alleged criminal offences “against both the public, and police officers”.
It added: “This is a complex case so we ask for public support in bearing with us while we make sure that enquiries are completed thoroughly.”
