Spokesman Report
MANCHESTER: British police officers brutally tortured two Pakistanis in front of their family at the Manchester Airport. The video of the incident went viral on social media.
In the video, the police officers repeatedly punching and kicking the young men while other officers shout at onlookers to stay back. Mother of a young man is seen attempting to protect him.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: “We know that a film of an incident at Manchester Airport that is circulating widely shows 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.
“One male officer has been removed from operational duties and we are making a voluntary referral of our policing response to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.”
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that they were called to Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport due to an ‘altercation’ among the public, which escalated into what they described as a ‘violent assault’ on officers attempting to make an arrest. Four men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray and assaulting emergency service workers.
In response to the public outcry over the video, GMP has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation, and one officer involved has been removed from operational duties.
GMP issued a statement acknowledging the serious concerns raised by the footage. Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said, The UK Police officers’ violent actions during the viral incident have sparked a significant backlash, including a protest outside Rochdale Police Station, where several hundred people gathered to express their anger and demand an end to police brutality. The protestors called for accountability and justice for the victims.