The lawyer representing the two British-Pakistani brothers allegedly assaulted by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has claimed that the incident at Manchester Airport was an “attempted assassination” of the men. Akhmed Yakoob, the lawyer for Mohammed Fahir and Mohammad Ammad, described the situation as a joint enterprise to assassinate the brothers. He expressed grave concern that the police, who are supposed to protect the public, were instead engaging in violence. According to Yakoob, one of the brothers was even threatened with death by an officer.
Yakoob, who is based in Birmingham and gained recognition as the “TikTok lawyer,” recently achieved a notable third place finish in the West Midlands mayoral election with a pro-Gaza stance. He also reduced Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood’s majority significantly in the July 4 elections.
Footage from Manchester Airport’s terminal two depicts an officer kicking and stomping on a man lying face down on the ground, while a woman kneels beside him. The brothers were at the airport to greet their mother arriving from Pakistan after a family visit.
Yakoob reported that Mohammed Fahir, 19, is currently fighting for his life after sustaining head injuries and undergoing a CT scan. He also noted that Fahir’s brother and their 56-year-old mother were assaulted during the incident.
Yakoob mentioned that the elder brother, who serves as a police officer with GMP, is now too fearful to go to work. He emphasized that the reasons behind the police’s approach are not as important as the health and well-being of the family. Yakoob asserted that there is no justification for the violent treatment shown by the officers, as evidenced by the videos of the incident, which show no apparent threat to the police or public.
Yakoob, who has had his own contentious history with the police, stated that while he supports effective policing, he opposes the abuse of power. He urged for “honest” officers to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).