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The initial incident that sparked the protests took place at the airport’s Terminal 2, where a video showed a male police officer pointing a stun gun at a man lying on the ground.
People can be heard shouting in the background before officers kick the man in the head and stomp on his head.
Bystanders were told to “stand back” as a female officer appeared and drew her stun gun, aiming it at others. The male officer then walked up to another man sitting on a bench, pointed his stun gun at him and told him to “get down.”
As the man raised his arms and began to fall to the ground, the officer appeared to kick him.
Police said they received a report of a “fight” between members of the public and that they were “violently attacked” while handling the incident.
GMP said one officer had been relieved of duty and the incident had been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
A police spokesman said that one of the three police officers in the video had a broken nose and had been sent to the hospital for treatment. A total of three police officers required treatment.
Four men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray and assaulting rescue workers.
A police spokesman said the force “acknowledged concerns about the officers’ conduct” and said the matter was being assessed by the Professional Standards Committee.
Assistant Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said GMP understood the “huge concerns and apprehensions people have about our response”.
He said: “We have referred our actions to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and will be having further discussions with them today.”
“We have spent the evening listening to community feedback and will continue to engage with the community and elected members to maintain a close partnership and understand local perspectives.”
The town’s newly elected Labour MP Paul Waugh said: “The video footage of Greater Manchester Police kicking and punching a man at Manchester Airport is truly shocking and disturbing.
“Like many who have seen this video, I am extremely worried. I have confirmed that the man arrested is a resident of Rochdale and I hope to meet his family as soon as possible.
“I have raised my concerns directly to the Assistant Chief Superintendent this evening and have also been in touch with Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing for Greater Manchester.
“The officer involved has been removed from his position and the matter has rightly been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct. I look forward to a thorough and swift investigation.”
A GMP spokesman said: “Police were called to reports of an altercation inside Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.
“While attempting to arrest a suspect who had been involved in an earlier altercation, three officers were violently attacked and knocked to the ground.
“A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three officers were taken to hospital for treatment.
“As the officers in attendance were firearms officers, there was a clear risk of their firearms being taken away during this attack.
“Four men were arrested at the scene for fighting and assaulting emergency workers.
“We acknowledge we have concerns about the conduct shown in the video and this is being assessed by our Professional Standards Directorate.”
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