New video from inside Manchester Airport shows chaotic moments leading up to a Greater Manchester Police officer appearing to kick a man in the head, an incident that went viral.
The Manchester Evening News got this exclusive video, believed to show what happened before the controversial event that has led to protests. Earlier footage showed the officer seemingly kicking and stamping on the man’s head while he was on the ground.
The new video reveals chaotic and violent interactions between people involved in the incident and the police officers before the head-kicking moment. At the beginning, a group is seen around a ticket machine in Terminal 2’s car park. Three officers—one man and two women—walk through the group toward a man in light blue facing the machine. One officer tries to restrain the man by grabbing his hands.
The male officer pushes the man’s head down as the two female officers stand nearby. People from the group approach. One man grabs the male officer, seemingly to free the detained man. Punches are thrown by both the officer and the man.
The detained man in light blue breaks free and punches the female officers, hitting them in the head and face. One female officer is punched to the ground.
The male officer then points his taser at the man who punched him. Another man runs at the officer from behind, throwing more punches as the officer holds up his taser.
The man wrestles the officer to the ground and lies face down. A woman kneels beside him. The officer stands up, points his taser at the man, and appears to kick and stamp on his head, as shown in the viral footage.
This incident has led to protests across the region. Public figures and those involved have called for calm.
On Friday night, The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a police officer is under criminal investigation for assault. The IOPC stressed that this doesn’t necessarily mean criminal charges will follow.
