LONDON: The two British-Pakistani brothers who were brutally assaulted by Manchester Police became involved in a heated argument with another passenger after the passenger racially abused their mother during a flight from Qatar to Manchester Airport.
The local Pakistani community has expressed outrage following the release of footage showing the assault, which has garnered global attention. Protests are planned until the police officers involved are prosecuted and tried for what has been described as one of the worst instances of police assault ever seen in the UK.
Sources close to the family in Manchester have informed that the brothers, Ammad and Fahir, from Rochdale, were returning from a visit to Qatar when their elderly mother was racially abused by a fellow passenger on the flight. Tensions escalated upon landing at Manchester Airport, where the brothers confronted the passenger who had insulted their mother immediately after passing through immigration.
It has been reported that the family originally hails from Kotli in Azad Kashmir.
Akhmad Yaqoob, the lawyer representing Ammad and Fahir, stated that he cannot comment on the allegations made by the police until he has reviewed the evidence. He emphasized, “What we do know is that Manchester Police subjected them to brutal assault, causing severe injuries, humiliation, and behaving in a barbaric manner.”
Following a heated argument and altercation with the brothers, the passenger alerted the police. It remains unclear whether the police’s allegations that one of the brothers assaulted an officer before being assaulted themselves hold any merit.
According to sources, the altercation involved physical confrontation between the passenger, described as of Arab descent by some sources and as a female by others, and the British-Pakistani brothers.
A family member recounted that the passenger had struck the brothers’ elderly mother with a trolley and verbally abused her. When police attempted to arrest one of the brothers, he resisted, describing the arrest as unjust.
Ammad and Fahir declined to provide comments, citing distress, and expressed intent to allow their legal representatives to speak on their behalf once they have recovered.
Family members claimed that in addition to assaulting the brothers, police also arrested and mistreated them in the police van en route to the station.
Yaqoob emphasized, “We demand formal charges against the police officers and justice for the victims of police abuse.” He confirmed plans for further protests and immediate legal action against the police.
Hundreds gathered outside Rochdale Police Station late into the night, demanding justice and the prosecution of the officers involved in what protesters described as unjustified assault and excessive use of force against unarmed individuals.
Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry of Greater Manchester Police acknowledged the widespread concern over the airport footage and stated that one officer had been relieved from duty pending investigation, clarifying that the officer had not been suspended.
The video from Terminal 2 depicted an officer with a taser kicking and stomping on a man lying on the ground, with a woman kneeling beside him. Another man standing nearby was also struck by the officer.
GMP stated that officers responded to reports of an assault at Terminal 2 on Tuesday evening, where they encountered resistance during the arrest. Three officers sustained injuries, including a broken nose for one female officer, requiring hospital treatment.
While acknowledging concerns about the officers’ conduct in the video, GMP cited the presence of firearms and the potential risk of them being seized during the altercation.
Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers, according to the police.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing shouting and witnessing physical altercations, with one stating seeing a man being pinned against a wall before being pushed and shoved by police.
Manchester Airport acknowledged the incident involving GMP officers and confirmed an ongoing investigation.
MP Naz Shah and Labour MP Afzal Khan expressed deep concern and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, urging transparency and accountability from GMP.
