Family's life 'turned upside down' after Manchester Airport incident, says lawyer

The lives of a family at the centre of a disturbance at Manchester Airport whose case went viral on social media have been “turned upside down”, their lawyer says.

A mobile phone video clip showed a police officer allegedly kicking and appearing to trample on the head of 19-year-old Fahir Amaaz while he and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, both from Rochdale, were being detained by officers.

Days later, further footage emerged, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, showing the immediate lead-up to the July 23 incident. It includes footage of two female police officers being knocked to the ground before Mr Amaaz was incapacitated with a taser.

Greater Manchester Police have handed over a “comprehensive” file of evidence to prosecutors as part of their investigation into the incident in which three of their officers were injured.

A separate investigation is now underway by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is examining the actions of the officers involved.

It has had a tremendous psychological impact in the form of depression and stress, and frankly the horrific abuse they have suffered.

On Thursday, the two brothers and their mother, Shameem Akhtar, 56, who was allegedly struck in the face with a taser by a police officer, met with IOPC acting regional director Catherine Bates to discuss the status of the investigation.

After the meeting, the family's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said Ms Bates told them: “Judge us by what we do.”

Mr Anwar said: “She has promised a thorough and impartial investigation. This will not be completed overnight and is likely to take some time.

“This is a family that had never been involved in the criminal justice system before. Their lives have been turned completely upside down.”

“I appreciate the public looking at the images and drawing their own conclusions. As we have said many times, there will be a rigorous and fair trial.

“It had a huge psychological impact in terms of depression and stress and, quite frankly, the horrific abuse they had to endure.

“People are making judgments instead of standing back and waiting. People are making this a racism issue against the family.

“Allegations and allegations of abuse – to describe Ms Akhtar as a drug mule is abhorrent. To claim that these individuals are involved in drug trafficking or are carrying a bomb is simply untrue and false.

“An incident occurred that day that is being investigated, and if charges are brought against these brothers, there will be charges and there will be due process.

“But everything else that followed seemed to be a golden opportunity for the racists out there to basically go on the attack.”

An officer is under investigation for assault in connection with the brothers' arrest and has also been suspended by GMP.

A second officer was informed that he was also under criminal investigation for assault, following an incident that occurred shortly after the arrest of two other men.

Four men, including the two brothers, were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault and remain free on bail.