A video showing a British police officer kick and stamp on a man’s head during an arrest at Manchester airport in northern England sparked a protest outside a police station late on Wednesday.
Police suspended one of the officers involved and referred the actions to an independent police complaints watchdog after the video, filmed by an onlooker, was posted on social media platforms and attracted criticism.
It showed a chaotic scene in an airport car park, in which several officers armed with tasers restrained two suspects. The events preceding this scene were not included in the video.
In the footage, a male officer was seen aiming a taser at a man lying on the ground. Reports suggested the men being beaten by police officers were British Pakistanis.
One man was kicked and stamped upon by an officer as he lay face down on the floor. The second man also appeared to be struck in the head by an officer.
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) statement said the video showed “an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about. The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm”.
It said police had responded to reports of an assault, and three officers were assaulted during their response. The officers, including one female officer whose nose was broken, required hospital treatment.
An officer was suspended on Thursday, having initially only been removed from operational duties.
In Tuesday night’s incident, police arrested two men on suspicion of assault and assault of an emergency worker among other counts. Two other men were arrested suspected of affray and assault of an emergency worker.
The incident sparked a protest outside a police station in a nearby town. One video posted online showed a crowd of at least 100 people chanting “Shame on you GMP”.
Police, who have not provided any details about the identity of those arrested at the airport, said the protest concluded safely and without incident.
“We have spent the evening listening to community feedback and will continue to engage with communities and elected members to maintain strong partnership links and understand local views,” they said in a subsequent statement.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog said it was independently investigating the “level of force” used by the police officer involved who was suspended.
“We appreciate the footage which was shared on social media has attracted widespread shock and concern,” the IOPC said in its statement.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham told the BBC after seeing the full footage leading up to the circulated clip that it was “not a clearcut situation” and that while the clip was “disturbing”, there were issues “on both sides”.
Burnham said there was an “altercation in the arrivals hall” before the filmed incident, which took place in the airport car park.
“So there had been already a serious incident before that. What people don’t see in the clip is that there is a situation which escalates and escalates very quickly”, Burnham added, calling for “calm”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he understands the “concern” over the video, while multiple MPs called the footage “disturbing”.
