Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (2024)

The situation surrounding a video of a police officer kicking and stamping on a man's head is "fast-moving and complicated" and not "clear cut", Manchester's mayor has said.

Read latest: Family 'traumatised' by footage

Andy Burnham also called for calm from protesters who rallied in the city centre on Thursday.

The footage was filmed at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening and appeared to show a man being kicked in the head and stamped on while he was lying on the ground.

It was later confirmed an officer had been suspended in relation to the incident.

The mayor's comments came amid a second day of protests over the recording.

Mr Burnham told the local BBC radio station he had seen full footage of the incident and that the situation was not "clear cut".

He added: "I would ask for calm because what I can assure people is that the right and proper steps have been taken in the right way.

"There are issues for both sides, but that said, it is right the officer has been suspended."

Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (1)

Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (2)

Man 'has cyst on his brain', says lawyer

The man who was kicked in the head and stamped on by a police officer has a cyst on his brain, a lawyer for the family said earlier on Thursday.

Akhmed Yakoob made the comment in a statement outside Rochdale Police Station, a day after footage of the incident at Manchester Airport was shared widely on social media.

He said the man - named by the lawyer as Fahir - was found to have a cyst on his brain after a CT scan following the incident.

Mr Yakoob - who is also representing Fahir's brother Amaad and their elderly mother - added Fahir's condition had worsened overnight and said that he was "fighting for his life".

All three of them claim they were assaulted by at least one officer from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at the airport on Tuesday night.

Mr Yakoob then said the family are "traumatised" and that Fahir's older brother works as a police officer for Greater Manchester Police and is now "afraid to go to work".

He added: "He went in today and spoke to his supervisor, and the only reason he is not going to work is because he is fearing for his own safety."

Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (3)

'Nothing justifies barbaric treatment'

The statement comes after GMP confirmed an officer had been suspended in relation to footage which appeared to show a suspect being kicked in the head and stamped on while he was lying on the ground.

The footage, which was filmed at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, led to an outcry after it was shared widely on social media.

The officer was later filmed pepper spraying another man before wrestling him to the ground.

On Thursday evening, there was a protest and a march in Manchester city centre over what happened at the airport.

A few hundred protesters gathered outside Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's office as part of a Stand Up To Racism demonstration, chanting slogans such as "No justice, no peace, no racist police."

They then marched through the city before various speeches took place.

Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (4)

GMP said in an earlier statement that it understood the "immense feeling of concern and worry that people feel" after the original footage emerged.

The force added that officers had been responding to reports of an assault at the airport before the footage was filmed.

Mr Yakoob said he was not aware of what happened before the incident, but said "nothing justifies the barbaric treatment from the police officers".

Dal Babu, former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent, told Sky News he believes the level of force used by the officer in the video "was not reasonable".

"The reasonable thing to do at that stage would be to handcuff (Fahir), but instead the officer has then kicked him in the face," he said.

"This was a totally disproportionate amount of force being used."

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Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (5)

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'Fully independent' IOPC probe

Manchester mayor Mr Burnham previously said he and his deputy "have now had the opportunity to meet with both the home secretary and the regional director" of the IOPC.

"It was agreed that the IOPC investigation now under way will be carried out as swiftly as possible, will involve community stakeholders, and will be truly independent," he added.

"I hope this provides further reassurance to people that all the right steps are being taken, that all relevant issues will be fully considered, and gives people confidence in the process as it moves forward."

The IOPC said it has a "significant amount" of bodycam footage.

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A statement added: "We have met with members of the first man's family today, some of whom were present during the incident, to explain our role and to listen to their concerns. We will keep them updated as our investigation continues."

This came after an estimated 200 demonstrators gathered outside Rochdale Police Station on Wednesday night with some shouting "GMP shame on you!".

Police said the protest ended "without incident".

Manchester airport video: Mayor Andy Burnham says incident during which police officer kicked man in head isn't 'clear cut' (2024)
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