Protesters have demonstrated in Manchester a day after widespread public outrage erupted over a video of a policeman kicking a man in the head at Manchester Airport.
A few hundred protesters gathered outside the office of Manchester’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, as part of a Stand Up To Racism demonstration, chanting slogans such as “no justice, no peace, no racist police”.
The footage, filmed at Manchester Airport’s Terminal Two on Tuesday, appeared to show an officer kick and stamp on the head of a man who was lying face down on the floor, with a woman kneeling beside him.
After the clip was widely shared on social media, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) suspended one of its officers from their duties on Wednesday.
Akhmed Yakoob, a solicitor representing the man, said on Thursday morning that he is now in hospital with a potential brain injury, and had been left “traumatised” by the experience.
Pictures also emerged on Thursday evening of protesters appearing to block trams in the city. Mr Burnham, who met with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss the footage, called for “calm”, saying it was “right” that the officer had been suspended, and urged people not to use the situation for “political purposes”.
The police force said the demonstration concluded “without incident” but that two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray and obstructing police. Two more were held on suspicion of affray and assault of an emergency worker, it added.
The man’s family is known to be particularly shocked by what happened, as some members of their family are police officers, according to their MP.
Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, said he had spoken to the family and that “it is clear they are deeply traumatised by what happened”.
Mr Waugh said: “This is a hardworking Rochdale family, some of whose members are police officers themselves and are therefore particularly shocked at what they have witnessed.”
He went on: “The family also want me to make it crystal clear that they have no political agenda, do not condone political violence and do not want to take part in any protests.
“They wanted me to appeal for calm and I hope that appeal is heeded.
“While there is clearly deep concern about this incident, there is also a vital need not to let extremists of any kind hijack these events for their own ends.”
He said the family has two priorities: the health and wellbeing of all those involved, including the man’s mother, and the need for justice to be done.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also looking into the incident Catherine Bates, its regional director, promised a “thorough and robust” investigation into what happened and said the organisation was reviewing body-worn video and CCTV footage.