Manchester Airport incident family’s lives ‘turned upside down’, says lawyer
The family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar spoke after they met the acting IOPC regional director to discuss its investigation into the disturbance in July.
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Your support makes all the difference.A family at the centre of a disturbance at Manchester Airport which went viral on social media have had their lives “turned upside down”, says their lawyer.
A mobile phone video clip showed an officer allegedly kick and appear to stamp on the head of Fahir Amaaz, 19, as he and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, both from Rochdale, were restrained by officers.
More footage, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, emerged days later which showed the immediate lead-up to the incident on July 23, including when two female police officers were hit to the ground before Mr Amaaz was incapacitated with a Taser.
Greater Manchester Police has passed a “comprehensive” file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service as part of its investigation into the incident which saw three of its officers injured.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also ongoing which is probing the actions of the officers involved.
It has had a huge impact mentally in terms of depression and stress, and in terms of quite honestly the horrific abuse they have faced
On Thursday, the two brothers and their mother, Shameem Akhtar, 56, who was allegedly struck in the face with a Taser by an officer, met the acting IOPC regional director Catherine Bates to discuss progress on its investigation.
Following the meeting the family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said Ms Bates had told them “judge us on what we do”.
Mr Anwar said: “She has promised a robust and impartial investigation. This will not be completed overnight and is likely to take a period of time.
“This is a family who had no previous involvement with the criminal justice system. Their lives have been turned upside down.
“I appreciate that members of the public will watch the pictures and form their own conclusions. As we have said time and time again, there will be robust due legal process.
“It has had a huge impact mentally in terms of depression and stress, and in terms of quite honestly the horrific abuse they have faced.
“People casting judgment rather than holding back and waiting. People turning this into a race issue against the family.
“Accusations and allegations of abuse – calling Mrs Akhtar a drugs mule is disgusting, saying that these individuals are involved in drugs or they were carrying a bomb is simply untrue and wrong.
“There was an incident that happened that day which will be investigated and if these brothers are to face criminal charges they will face criminal charges and there will be a due process for that.
“But everything else that followed seemed to be a convenient opportunity for racists out there to basically go on the attack.”
One officer is under criminal investigation for assault in connection with the arrests of the brothers. He has also been suspended by GMP.
A second officer has been advised they are also under criminal investigation for assault over an incident shortly after two other men were arrested.
Four men, including the two brothers, arrested on suspicion of affray and assault remain on bail.