Moment when a Greater Manchester Police officer pushes a man to the ground and arrests him in front of spectators – after a “brawl” in Piccadilly Gardens

A police officer was filmed pinning a man to the ground and arresting him after a fight allegedly broke out in Manchester.

The incident was filmed by a bystander after police responded to reports of an altercation between two men in Piccadilly Gardens on Monday evening.

A group of uniformed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers are seen pinning two men to the ground before an officer appears to deliver three powerful blows to one of the men's upper body.

The man was later heard screaming in pain and his face appeared to be bloody as officers continued to restrain him. According to GMP, one of the men had already sustained facial injuries before officers arrived at the scene.

The incident came just under a month after footage showed another GMP officer apparently stamping on a man's head as he was being arrested at Manchester Airport.

Police officers are seen wrestling two men to the ground after responding to reports of an altercation between two men in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, on Monday evening

A group of uniformed officers from the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) push two men to the ground

An officer on the left side of the video is then seen raising his fist before apparently delivering three powerful punches to a man's upper body

Witnesses who observed the violent scene on Monday night were heard shouting: “Why are you so mean?” while another added: “Why are you hitting him?”

A witness said: “I heard a big commotion and saw the police running towards the guy.”

“He was already down and they hit him three times.

“It was much more than necessary. He was just a thin guy and these were all big officers. It seemed like he was already on the ground and obedient.”

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers in the city centre were called to reports of a fight between two men in Piccadilly Gardens shortly before 10.30pm on Monday 2 September 2024.”

“Officers arrived, broke up the fight and arrested several people. One of the suspects resisted arrest by officers.

“According to witnesses at the scene, one of the men was found to have sustained injuries consistent with being struck in the face with an object prior to police arrival. The man was treated at the scene.

The man was later heard screaming in pain and his face appeared to be covered in blood as officers continued to restrain him.

GMP later said the man had already sustained facial injuries before officers arrived at the scene.

“Following initial investigations, those arrested were released pending further investigations.”

“Our Professional Standards Directorate is evaluating all available footage, including footage taken by witnesses on the scene and worn by officers.”

The arrest follows another incident two months ago when a man under arrest was kicked in the head during an altercation with GMP officers at Manchester Airport.

Police launched an investigation after video footage of violent scenes at the airport emerged on July 23.

The first clip, which went viral on social media, appeared to show a police officer kicking and trampling on the head of 19-year-old Fahir Amaaz while he lay on the ground.

A second video showed an argument that had broken out shortly before the incident.

Mr Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, apparently beat a male police officer – while two female police officers were also knocked to the ground before Mr Amaaz was shot with a taser.

Footage of a police officer kicking 19-year-old Fahir Amaaz while he is being arrested along with his brother Muhammad Amaad

A second video shows an altercation that broke out shortly before the July 23 incident in which police officers were beaten

On 24 July, protests took place outside the Greater Manchester Police headquarters in Rochdale in response to the first footage of the incident

According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, criminal investigations into two police officers for assault are ongoing in connection with the incident.

Following the incident, four men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault. They are still out on bail.

Last month, police said they had submitted a file to prosecutors asking whether charges should be brought over the incident.