'It was an attempted assassination', says lawyer of men kicked by police officer at Manchester Airport

26 July 2024, 08:12 | Updated: 26 July 2024, 08:35

“It was an attempted assassination:” Lawyer of teenager kicked in the head by police speaks to LBC

The lawyer representing two men kicked by police at Manchester Airport has accused officers of an "attempted assassination".

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, solicitor Akhmed Yakoob claimed an officer had threatened to kill one of the men filmed being kicked at the city's airport on Wednesday.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said on Thursday that it was "not a clearcut situation".

Having seen extra footage leading up to the incident, he said it "escalates very quickly".

When asked what footage the mayor was talking about, Mr Yakoob told Nick: "I hope he’s referring to the attempted assassination, the joint enterprise assassination of the young boys by the police officers.

"That is concerning because if police officers who are meant to protect us are going around trying to kill people, how are the public going to feel safe?"

He added: "One of the boys was threatened to get killed by a police officer."

'It was an attempted assassination', lawyer representing two men Manchester Airport

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It comes after Mr Yakoob said his client, 19-year-old Mohammed Fahir, had been in hospital for a CT scan which revealed he was suffering from a head injury.

He added: "The main concern for us, for me, is that the family receive justice and this no longer happens again."

The footage has sparked concern among onlookers, and the officer in question has been suspended.

Crowds descended on St Peter’s Square before marching towards the Town Hall on Thursday evening, with protesters carrying signs that accused Greater Manchester Police of being ‘racist’.

Others carried signs that read ‘no justice, no peace’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’.

In the video, the teenager was seen being kicked in the face and his head was stamped on by the armed police officer.

Warning: the below video contains violent scenes

The clip shows the man, who appears to have been tasered, lying on the ground as the officer takes aim at him, and then kneels on his back.

A woman kneels next to him on the floor during the kicking.

Another man is also restrained forcibly while sitting on a nearby chair, as bystanders watch on in astonishment.

Police said that they had been called out to an altercation between members of the public, and were attacked while responding.

Asked why the police had approached the family, Mr Yakoob previously said: "That's not relevant. The relevant issue right now is the health and the wellbeing of the family.

"One thing I can say loud and clear is that nothing justifies the barbaric treatment from the police officers.

"Because as you can see from the videos that everybody has seen there was no threat whatsoever to the police or the public.

"People are forgetting that the mother was assaulted as well. She got punched and kicked in the face."