Two men charged with assaulting police at Manchester Airport in July
The CPS was handed a file of evidence in August and has now authorised charges
Last updated 20th Dec 2024
Two men have been charged with assaulting police after a disturbance at Manchester Airport.
But no police officers will face charges over their role in the incident, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Footage of fracas was shared online in July and prompted protests after it appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police officer assaulting a man as he lay on the floor.
The altercation, in the airport's Terminal Two, allegedly happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight which arrived at 7.20pm on July 23.
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Muhammad Amaad & Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, after the force passed a file of evidence to them in August.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (20), of Rochdale, has been charged with: two counts of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker, and one charge of common assault.
Muhammad Amaad (25), of Rochdale, has been charged with: one count of causing actual bodily harm.
They will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 January 2025.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said:
"I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public at Manchester Airport earlier this year.
“I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers. I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome.
“Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved. The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate fully in this regard.
“Whilst cooperating fully with the IOPC in the discharge of their independent investigation into the conduct of our officers, GMP has offered support to our officers and will continue to do in the coming months.
“I know that these matters have understandably generated a great deal of debate, scrutiny and speculation. We now have specific charging decisions and the court proceedings must be allowed to progress without the prejudice or taint that can emerge as a result of misplaced commentary, speculation or the sharing of digital content.”
A statement from the family of Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Mohammed Amaad, 25, issued through their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said:
"There has been a great deal of public comment, political incitement around this case. Nothing further should be said to potentially prejudice legal proceedings.
"My clients maintain their innocence and will vigorously contest the allegations.
"They will not be making any further comment until these proceedings have concluded."
The statement added: "The family feel betrayed by both the IOPC and CPS, but neither organisation has a track record on delivering justice where allegations of police violence are involved.
"To be clear nobody should be above the law and the question asked at the very start was what possible justification can there be for the use of excessive, disproportionate and potentially lethal force against any civilian who is incapacitated by a Taser and poses no threat?
"At that point, it remains the case that a decision is still to be made whether officers from the GMP should face disciplinary proceedings, following a series of complaints raised by six members of the public, including our clients in relation to the incident."