LIVE: Police officer suspended after man kicked at Manchester airport as victim's lawyer says they will 'get justice'

Around 100 people have gathered outside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority offices to protest police violence.

IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “We understand the widespread shock and concern that a video circulated on social media following the arrest of men by Greater Manchester Police at Manchester Airport has caused.

“We are grateful to those who have already been in touch with us and we have now set up a reporting line so that people who may have witnessed or filmed the incident can contact us. This will help as we build up a detailed picture of what happened on the day.”

“We have also received a further referral from Greater Manchester Police in relation to the incident which took place on Tuesday 23 July. The first, received earlier today concerned the use of force by an officer on a man who was detained on the ground. The second relates to the same officer’s use of PAVA spray on another man at the airport.

“We have met with members of the first man’s family today, some of whom were present during the incident, to explain our role and to listen to their concerns. We will keep them updated as our investigation continues.

“We will ensure a robust investigation, independent of police, is carried out to investigate the circumstances that led up to and during the incident at Terminal 2. We know many people have serious questions about what happened and we will work to provide those answers as quickly as we can."

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said an investigation is underway regarding the incident at Manchester Airport.

In a statement, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "The Deputy Mayor and I have now had the opportunity to meet with both the Home Secretary and the regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

"It was agreed that the IOPC investigation now under way will be carried out as swiftly as possible, will involve community stakeholders and will be truly independent.

"The precise arrangements will be set out by the IOPC. I hope this provides further reassurance to people that all the right steps are being taken, that all relevant issues will be fully considered and gives people confidence in the process as it moves forward."

A former top police officer has warned that police should not "mete out summary justice" after footage of a police officer kicking a man in the head in Manchester Airport sparked outrage.

Dal Babu, a former Met Police superintendent, told LBC's Tom Swarbrick that "most sensible people" would look at a video of a man being kicked and stamped on as he lay on the floor "and think that's excessive force".

The man, who appears to have been tasered, can be seen lying on the ground as a police officer takes aim at him, and then kneels on his back.

Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob has said the video of police kicking a man at Manchester Airport is "something that has not been seen before."

He said: "It was something that has not been seen before - such police brutality.

"I can tell you guys now that the people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s family who is currently serving in the Greater Manchester Police force.

"This man is now afraid to go into work. He went in today and spoke to his supervisor. The only reason he is not going to work is that he is fearing for his own safety. He thinks, like his family members who were victims, he could be a victim."

Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, said in statement shared on X: "This morning I have spoken to Greater Manchester Police and the Mayor of Greater Manchester about the urgent steps they are taking in response to the incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, and the video that circulated online yesterday.

"I share the deep concern surrounding the video and understand the widespread distress it will have caused. I welcome the initiation of an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following a referral from Greater Manchester Police. It is extremely important that the IOPC are able to begin the investigation swiftly and conduct it thoroughly, examining all of the evidence, with clear and transparent ways for all those affected to be able to raise their concerns with the IOPC.

"I welcome the engagement by the Mayor of Greater Manchester with local communities. It is essential that the police have the trust of communities and the public rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe.

"I am continuing to receive updates from Greater Manchester Police. It is vital that we now allow this investigation to proceed fairly and independently."

Akhmed Yakoob has this afternoon claimed the man struck by the officer has a cyst on his brain.

The lawyer claims a CT scan has revealed the cyst and claimed the man's health declined overnight.

He gave an address outside Rochdale Police Station.

The man whose head was kicked and stamped on by a Greater Manchester Police officer is related to someone on the force, the family's lawyer said.

Akhmed Yakoob revealed the connection in a statement outside Rochdale Police Station this afternoon.

The related police officer is now "afraid to go to work."

Mr Yakoob said: "He went in today and spoke to his supervisor, and the only reason he is not going to work is because he is fearing for his own safety."

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside a Rochdale police station overnight and chanted “Allahu Akbar” after an armed officer was filmed apparently stamping on a man’s head at Manchester Airport

The video of a man being kicked by police at Manchester Airport is "not a clear cut situation," the city's mayor Andy Burnham has said.

Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "It was, I think, an issue on a flight coming into Manchester Airport.

"When the flight landed, two individuals ... were waiting for their mum, who I think said that there'd been an issue on the flight and she pointed somebody out and then there was an altercation in the arrivals hall.

"And then that individual who was involved in that - or a couple - were followed by cameras through the airport, and then we get to the scene that people have seen, which is in the car park area of Manchester Airport.

"So there had been already a serious incident before that. What people don't see in the clip is that there is a situation which escalates and escalates very quickly. "