Two men were charged on Friday with assaulting police officers during a July altercation at Manchester Airport. The incident drew public outrage after social media footage showed an officer stomping on a man’s head as he lay on the floor.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that no officers involved would face charges, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, explained the decision not to charge officers.
“We have reviewed all available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports, and material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment,” Ferguson said. “We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers.”
The altercation occurred on July 23 at Terminal Two of Manchester Airport, where police were called to break up a fight. During the fracas, three officers were assaulted, one suffering a broken nose. All three required hospital treatment.
Following the incident, four people were arrested, and one officer was suspended from duty.
Prosecutors revealed that Mohammed Amaaz, 20, has been charged with:
– Two counts of causing actual bodily harm,
– One charge of assaulting an emergency worker, and
– One charge of common assault.
Muhammed Amaad, 25, faces one charge of causing actual bodily harm.
The incident unfolded amid growing distrust of the police in the U.K., fueled by allegations of excessive force against ethnic minorities and scandals involving officers charged with serious crimes.
Public outrage over the video of the officer stomping on a suspect led to protests outside a Manchester police station.
Subsequent footage also showed individuals punching officers and one officer using a stun gun on a suspect.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson confirmed that the officer involved in the video had been suspended but was reinstated following the CPS decision.
“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,” Watson said. “I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers.”
Watson added that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its investigation into the events at the airport.
