Jury in Manchester Airport trial sent out to consider verdicts
Pc Zachary Marsden, Pc Lydia Ward and Pc Ellie Cook approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at a ticket machine after a report that a male fitting his description had headbutted a customer at Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals on July 23 last year.
Amaaz allegedly resisted, and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, is then said to have intervened as the prosecution said they inflicted a 'high level of violence' on the Greater Manchester Police officers.
The Crown say CCTV footage showed Amaaz threw 10 punches, which included one to the face of Pc Ward that knocked her to the floor, and that Amaad aimed six punches at firearms officer Pc Marsden.
Amaaz is also said to have kicked Pc Marsden and twice struck fellow firearms officer Pc Cook with his elbow.
He is said to have punched Pc Marsden from behind and then had hold of him before Pc Cook discharged her Taser device.
Mobile phone footage of a kick and stamp by Pc Marsden as Amaaz lay on the floor was shared on social media and went viral.
Amaaz and Amaad, both from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, told the court they acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of the other.
Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court, Amaaz said he feared the 'lunatic' male officer would 'batter him to death' and Amaad said he believed he was under attack.
The defence said the officers used 'unlawful force' as they grabbed Amaaz from behind without announcing themselves.
Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm.
He is also accused of the assault of emergency worker Pc Cook, and the earlier assault by beating of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals – in which he also claimed he was acting in self-defence
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
6 minutes ago
- ITV News
Man who used 'high level of violence' against two female airport police officers guilty of assault
A man who used a "high level of violence" in a confrontation with police at Manchester Airport which broke one female officer's nose, has been found guilty of assault. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, struck out after police were called to respond to an incident in Terminal 2 on 23 July 2024. As he resisted arrest he landed a number of punches on the officers before he was eventually felled by a Taser. PC Lydia Ward, who had her nose broken by Amaaz, told the court she was 'absolutely terrified' during the incident, having 'never experienced' such violence towards her in her police service. Amaz maintained he had been lawfully acting in self defence or in defence of his brother who was also present, but a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found him guilty of assaulting two female police officers. Amaaz was convicted of the assault of PC Lydia Ward causing actual bodily harm and the assault of emergency worker PC Ellie Cook. He was also found guilty of an earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at the airport. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on allegations that Amaaz and his brother, Muhammad Ahmed, 26, assaulted PC Zachary Marsden causing actual bodily harm. Liverpool Crown Court heard the disturbance began when officers approached Amaaz at a ticket machine after a report a male fitting his description had earlier headbutted a customer at Starbucks in arrivals. The officers planned to secure the suspect and take him outside, away from the crowded area, the court was told. But Amaaz began 'tense up and resist', with things going from "nought to a hundred" very quickly. 'My attention was mainly on Mr Amaaz," PC Ward said. 'I was trying to keep hold of Mr Amaaz's arm and get it behind his back so I could get some cuffs on him.' She added: "All I remember then is that he turned and he punched me straight in the face. 'I can't really remember where it landed but I know where my injuries were. I remember falling on the floor and everything went black.' She told prosecutor Adam Birkby that the blow delivered was 'really forceful'. PC Ward, a former special constable with Lancashire Police who joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2018, said: 'Never in my whole time in the police service had that level of violence been used on me before. It felt really hard. 'As I came round, all I could feel was blood pouring out of my nose. I was just thinking he has done something to my nose, face area, I didn't know what has happened.' Mr Birkby said: 'How did you feel when you came round?' PC Ward replied: 'I was terrified to be honest. I was absolutely terrified. I had never experienced that level of violence towards me in my life. 'I didn't know who was going to come up at me next. I was scared of going after this male again and being punched in the face again.'
Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Thug who brawled with cops in Manchester Airport GUILTY of assault after chaos sparked nationwide protests
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A THUG who brawled with cops in Manchester Airport before claiming HE was the victim of police brutality has been found guilty of assault. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, sparked nationwide protests after accusing the officers of attacking them. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Footage played to jurors shows the brothers brawling with police 7 Amaaz broke one of the officer's noses in the carnage 7 Muhammed Amaad, left, and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, right, stood trial Credit: Getty Two of the officers were also probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and faced criminal charges. But during their trial, it was alleged the brothers had actually lashed out at police when they were called to deal with an earlier altercation. Amaaz was captured on CCTV headbutting passenger Abdulkareem Ismaeil in the cafe and punching him in a Starbucks. When PC Zachary Marsden, PC Ellie Cook and PC Lydia Ward approached the brothers in the car park of Terminal 2, Amaaz and Amaad were accused of displaying a "high level of violence". Amaaz has now been convicted of assaulting PC Ward and PC Cook following the horror last July, as well as assaulting Abdulkareem in the Starbucks. He and his brother were also accused of assaulting PC Marsden occasioning actual bodily harm but jurors could not reach a verdict on that count. The Crown Prosecution Service will now decide whether to hold a retrial on that charge. Footage showed Amaaz resisting arrest as the officers tried to move him away from a payment machine to cuff him. He threw ten punches - including one to PC Ward's face that sent her crashing to the ground with blood pouring from her nose. Amaaz also twice struck firearms officer PC Cook with his elbow. Moment man 'headbutted dad at Manchester airport before brawling with cops' Both Amaaz and PC Marsden then fell to the ground before the officer got up and appeared to "stamp" his foot towards Amaaz's head, Manchester Crown Court heard. But jurors were told the cop "doesn't appear to connect with Mr Amaaz". As the brawl continued, the police officers got their Tasers out before managing to handcuff the brothers with the help of other cops. At one point, PC Ward could be seen appearing to cry as she holds her nose. Jurors heard PC Marsden suffered "post-concussion syndrome" and was left with a "severe headache" for three days, dizziness, forgetfulness and bruising and swelling. PC Ward was left with a broken nose and needed surgery under general anaesthetic, it was said. The court heard previously that the brothers had gone to meet their mum at the airport on July 23 last year. She had been involved in some sort of incident with Abdulkareem either on their flight or shortly after it. 7 Video showed one of the brothers headbutting a passenger before the brawl As the brothers passed by Starbucks, the mum pointed out Abdulkareem to her sons as he sat with his wife and children in the cafe. Amaaz entered the cafe and headbutted the dad before punching him a number of times. Protests were held across Rochdale and Manchester after the footage emerged last summer. The brothers later said they were threatened by an officer and thrown to the ground. Their claims saw Greater Manchester Police plunged into crisis as video showed PC Marsden allegedly kicking Amaaz. They initially hired TikTok solicitor Akhmed Yakoob to represent them but he quit when new footage was released revealing the cops had been attacked. Timeline of chaos Footage of an incident at Manchester Airport between police officers and members of the public went viral on social media in July. A timeline below sets out what happened: July 23: According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), an altercation takes place between passengers from a Qatar Airways flight which arrives at Manchester Airport at 7.20pm. A second incident, which police describe as a "violent altercation involving members of the public", happens in the Starbucks of Terminal Two just after 8.20pm. A third incident happens in the car park pay point area shortly before 8.30pm. Brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25 and their mother Shameem Akhtar, 56, from Rochdale, are allegedly assaulted. Police say three of their officers receive head injuries, including a broken nose. Four men are arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers. July 24: A police officer is removed from operational duties after footage of the incident, appearing to show a man being kicked and having his head stamped on as he lies on the floor, is shared online. Police make a voluntary referral of their response to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). That night, an estimated 200 people gather outside Rochdale police station to protest in response. GMP say the protest concludes "without incident" July 25: A GMP officer is suspended from all duties. The IOPC confirms it is independently investigating the level of force used. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says he has seen full footage of the incident, which shows a "fast-moving and complicated" situation with "issues for both sides". Protests in Manchester city centre that evening involve blocked roads and tram lines while videos online appear to show a handful of demonstrators with their faces covered, throwing eggs at Rochdale police station. Rochdale MP Paul Waugh says he has spoken to the family involved and they want to appeal for calm. July 26: The IOPC announces that a police constable is under criminal investigation for assault and has been told he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of professional standards, including his use of force. Former Rochdale MP George Galloway visits the town and says he plans to meet the family involved. July 27: New footage, appearing to show events in the moments before the video which has already been shared, becomes public. The Manchester Evening News publishes the video, which appears to show men throwing punches at officers. Two female officers appear to be struck, with one ending up on the ground. August 1: Solicitor for the family, Aamer Anwar, says he has spoken with the IOPC about lodging a formal complaint against officers and says the family wants to understand on what legal basis Mr Burnham was shown the complete CCTV. August 6: The family and their lawyer hold a press conference in which they outline their version of events. August 8: The IOPC reveals a second officer is under criminal investigation for assault, relating to an incident shortly afterwards when two other men were arrested. The watchdog's acting regional director Catherine Bates says its investigation is ongoing in parallel with a GMP investigation into whether criminal offences were committed by members of the public. August 15: GMP says a "comprehensive file of evidence" has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice as part of an investigation into a series of alleged criminal offences. September 5: The family meet with the IOPC to discuss progress on its investigation. September 6: A spokesman for the police watchdog says it will investigate whether someone employed by the force shared footage. October 7: MPs from Reform UK write to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, pledging to launch a private prosecution against those involved if charges are not brought by the CPS. November 18: The CPS says it is still "considering material" and working with police and the IOPC while inquiries continue. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says the party will make a legal application. December 20: It is announced that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, has been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, has been charged with one count of causing actual bodily harm. No police officers will be charged, the CPS says. July 7, 2025: Unseen footage is released by the CPS showing Ammaz attacking the officers. It also emerges Amaaz had earlier headbutted a passenger in a Starbucks at the airport. Amaaz kept up his narrative of being the victim during the trial - claiming he feared he would be "killed" by PC Marsden during the chaos. He added: "It's not like it hasn't happened before when police officers have abused their powers and people have died.' Amaaz denied assaulting PC Marsden and PC Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He was also accused of the assault of PC Cook and the earlier assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil at Starbucks. Amaad pleaded not guilty to assaulting PC Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Amaaz will be sentenced at a later date. 7 As police came to arrest them, Amaaz allegedly lashed out at cops 7 PC Marsden stamped his foot towards Amaaz's head but did not make contact
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Police launch appeal after girl, 4, is mauled by XL bully on river footpath
After a four-year-old girl was attacked by a dog on the River Irwell footpath, in Kersal, Salford, Greater Manchester Police has issued an appeal for information. An XL bully bit a four-year-old girl along a riverside footpath in Salford. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have launched an appeal for information today following the incident where the young child was attacked by a dog on the River Irwell footpath in Kersal. The unfortunate event occurred sometime between 2pm and 3pm on Saturday, July 19. Thankfully, the little girl did not sustain any severe injuries from the attack, according to GMP. At present, what prompted the attack or whether the dog's owner was present during the incident is unknown. It comes after a Brit mum's 'horrendous' death after being scratched by a puppy with rabies on holiday. The police are now calling on any witnesses to step forward with information as they begin to piece together the details of the attack, reports Manchester Evening News. A spokesperson for GMP Salford stated: "We are appealing for information following an incident which saw an XL bully bite a four-year-old child on footpath of the River Irwell in Kersal between 2-3pm on Saturday, July 19 2025. "Thankfully no serious injury was sustained." This is not the only incident involving XL Bully dogs in recent times. On April 26 this year, a church volunteer was brutally attacked by an XL Bully while he was asleep, with the banned breed ripping off the man's ear. Darren Shuttleworth-Long was caring for the dog, which wasn't his own, when he was set upon at a property in Exeter Street, Swindon. The 52-year-old had dozed off beside the animal but awoke to find it with its jaw clamped beneath his armpit. The dog continued mauling and biting Darren, from Swindon, Wiltshire, for approximately 10 minutes. The XL Bully succeeded in tearing his right ear clean off and also left half of Darren's nose "hanging off". Anyone with information about the attack is urged to call 101 and quote reference CRI/06FF/0019513/25. Alternatively, tips can be given anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
