Two men charged after incident at Manchester Airport in July

Two men from Rochdale have been charged with assaulting police officers in connection with an incident at Manchester Airport in July.

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, of Rochdale, has been charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker, and one charge of common assault.

Muhammad Amaad, 25, of Rochdale, has been charged with one count of causing actual bodily harm.

They will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 January 2025.

A video of the incident at Manchester Airport's emerged in July, which showed a police officer kicking a man in the head as he lay on the ground. Further CCTV footage shared online showed the lead-up to the incident.

Three Greater Manchester Police officers are shown restraining a man at a car park ticketing machine before a fight ensues.

The footage shows punches being thrown and a police officer tasering a man and another officer stamping on the man's head.
 

Read more: Hundreds protest at police station after it emerges man in shocking airport footage is from Rochdale Published: 25 July 2024

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said: “Following our review of an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service has today issued charges against two individuals.

"This was a high-profile incident that attracted significant public interest and media coverage at the time, and we have worked closely from the outset with investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Greater Manchester Police. 

“We have reviewed all the available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports and other material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider.

"Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers.

“We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers. We examined potential offences of actual bodily harm, and common assault, and reviewed expert evidence in the form of an independent report from an expert in the use of police force, to inform this decision.”

Two police officers are still under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog after GMP conducted its own inquiry.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public at Manchester Airport earlier this year.

“I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers. I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome.

“Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved. The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate fully in this regard.

“Whilst cooperating fully with the IOPC in the discharge of their independent investigation into the conduct of our officers, GMP has offered support to our officers and will continue to do in the coming months.

“I know that these matters have understandably generated a great deal of debate, scrutiny and speculation.  We now have specific charging decisions and the court proceedings must be allowed to progress without the prejudice or taint that can emerge as a result of misplaced commentary, speculation or the sharing of digital content.”