Protest held after Manchester airport kicking video

A large group of individuals gathered outside a police station in Greater Manchester to express their outrage over a video showing a police officer kicking a man in the head at the airport.

Protesters in Rochdale were shouting "shame on you" at the police, alleging institutional racism. Video from the protest that was posted online seems to confirm this.

The Greater Manchester Police acknowledged that people have strong concerns and they respect the right to protest. They also confirmed that the demonstration ended peacefully and without any issues.

The police department has requested an investigation into its own actions and has suspended one officer from active duty after a video of them kicking someone surfaced.

The footage, captured at Manchester Airport on Tuesday night, depicts a male officer pointing a Taser at a man who is laying on the ground.

The policeman is seen stomping and kicking the man in the head, as other officers yell at spectators to keep their distance.

The video went viral on social media and was labeled as "extremely shocking" by the law enforcement officers.

During the demonstration on Wednesday evening, a large group of seemingly hundreds of individuals assembled outside a police station in Rochdale.

According to the Manchester Evening News, a protester spoke to the crowd and declared that they were no longer willing to accept police violence.

The police department, GMP, received a report of a fight at Terminal 2 of the airport at 8:25 PM on Tuesday.

It was reported that during the attempt to apprehend a suspect, three police officers were brutally assaulted and knocked to the ground. One officer sustained a fractured nose, and all three required medical attention at the hospital.

A spokesperson for the police force mentioned that since the officers present were armed, there was a definite danger of their firearms being seized during the attack.

Four individuals were taken into police custody at the location for causing a public disturbance and physically attacking first responders.

GMP previously stated that it had proactively reached out to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, the organization responsible for monitoring police behavior and addressing complaints.

The IOPC stated that they would review GMP's referral and determine any necessary next steps.

Amar Minhas, who lives in Leeds, spoke to the BBC and said he was walking towards the baggage claim area when he witnessed the event happening.

He reported that law enforcement officers had confronted a young man in his early 20s and informed him that he was wanted for a crime. They then forcefully pressed him against a wall.

Then another man got into a confrontation with the police and a physical altercation broke out, according to him.

According to Mr Minhas, the man who was pressed against the wall began to fight back by throwing punches. He was then shocked with a Taser and dropped to the ground.

"That's when the officer used force against him."

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, called the video "upsetting" and acknowledged that it had sparked widespread and profound worry.

He mentioned that he had shared his worries with the deputy chief constable of GMP.

Andy George, who is the head of the National Black Police Association, said that the video was "tough to see".

In a message on X, previously known as Twitter, he stated: "Although being a police officer is a challenging profession, we undergo rigorous training and are expected to maintain a higher level of professionalism."

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson also shared a message on X: "I have seen troubling videos from an incident at Manchester Airport today and recognize the public worry it has caused."

I requested a comprehensive update from the Greater Manchester Police.

In a statement released after the video gained widespread attention, Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry acknowledged that the footage from Manchester Airport depicted a highly disturbing incident that has raised significant alarm among viewers.

Using force during an arrest is not something that happens often, and we know it can be concerning for people.

Speaking about the protest in Rochdale, ACC Chaudhry acknowledged the referral made to the IOPC. He stated, "We recognize the strong emotions of worry and concern in the community regarding our actions and support their right to peacefully express their opinions."

He stated: "We have spent the evening hearing input from the community and will keep communicating with communities and elected officials to uphold strong partnership connections and grasp local opinions."