In light of new CCTV footage released, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is calling for calm as tensions escalate following a controversial incident at Manchester Airport. The newly surfaced video shows the moments leading up to a police officer kicking a teenager in the head, revealing a prior altercation where police officers were attacked.
The footage shows three police officers, including one with a broken nose and another slumped on the floor, being assaulted by 19-year-old Fahir Muhammed Amas and his brother before the notorious kicking incident occurred. This new evidence provides context to the subsequent actions of the police, which had sparked widespread allegations of brutality and racism.
The video has intensified the already volatile situation, leading to multiple protests in Rochdale, where the Amas brothers reside. Adding to the controversy, Akhmed Yakoob, the lawyer representing the brothers, made inflammatory remarks by describing the incident as an “attempted assassination,” a statement he later tempered in a TikTok video asserting his role in de-escalating the situation.
Mayor Burnham stressed the complexity of the situation, which “escalated very quickly into a very violent situation,” urging the public to reserve judgment until all facts are thoroughly investigated. He emphasized the challenges of managing such incidents in the “social media age,” where partial information can lead to premature conclusions.
As tensions continue to simmer, the community awaits the results of the ongoing investigations with the hope that full transparency will restore trust and peace. Mayor Burnham and local leaders continue to appeal for calm and a balanced assessment of the incident.
