Police brutality at Manchester Airport draws public ire

Celebrities and politicians condemn the police brutality against Muslim men

A video capturing an altercation and shocking incident of police brutality at Manchester Airport on Tuesday has gone viral, evoking widespread outrage on social media. The video shows an armed officer aiming a taser at a Muslim man on the ground. What follows is a chaotic scene where the officer proceeds to kick and stamp on the man’s head, amidst shouts and pleas from onlookers and the man’s family to stop the violence. As the video went on, the officers displayed violence against the men accompanying the first as well.

BBC reports suggest that the individuals targeted by the officers are British Pakistanis. The incident, initially sparked by an “altercation among the public,” quickly escalated into a violent confrontation with the police. The clip, viewed thousands of times online, prompted the Greater Manchester Police to refer the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). One officer has been relieved of duty pending investigation.

Boxer Amir Khan released a video condemning the brute force applied by the policemen. Calling their behaviour “disgusting”, he said, “This is the first time I’ve seen policemen, without even asking questions, beating and stomping on the heads of these young Asian boys. It is disgusting to see a video like that, it scares you from coming to the UK. Imagine what the mother was going through. They need to be sacked.”

Actor Armeena Khan also shared the video saying, “Should check if any one of them work in the Israel Offensive Forces (IOF).”

British politician and broadcaster George Galloway called for the “immediate suspension” of the officer “kicking and stamping upon the head of the helpless prone.” He furthered on, “The politicians in Greater Manchester better get a grip of the Manchester Airport affair fast. The atmosphere in the community is boiling with rage and I urge calm upon everyone involved in the justified protests now spreading across the region.”

UK television personality Bushra Shaikh took to X to say, “The difference between us and MPs like Nigel Farage or Lee Anderson is that had the Manchester airport incident involved a White boy, we would call it out the same. And context is irrelevant. An officer turned into a thug.”

Social media users have been swift to react, condemning the use of excessive force by the police in the video. The footage sparked a wave of criticism and calls for accountability across all platforms, with users expressing shock and dismay over the violent tactics employed by the officers.

A user wrote on X, “This cannot go unchallenged. This is absolutely brutal and disgusting. These officers need to be fired” Another said, “As someone who works in security, watching a weapons trained police officer kick a man who is on the floor in prone position. I’m truly mortified. Not only should he lose his job, but also be put in jail.” One also questioned why force was necessary in the first place. “Why pepper spray and get violent with someone who’s not resisting arrest? Such people shouldn’t be allowed to protect the public,” they said.

In response to public outcry, authorities said that four men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assaulting emergency service workers. The IOPC has assured that a thorough assessment of the incident will be carried out, emphasising the need for accountability and further action as deemed necessary. Regardless of what the investigation reveals, the response to this incident underscores broader concerns about police practices and the treatment of minority communities in the UK. People have gathered in Manchester to protest police brutality as well.