Manchester Airport Brawl: CCTV Footage and Assault Allegations Unfold in Court

Manchester Airport Brawl: CCTV Footage Presented to Jury Amidst Assault Allegations

Dramatic CCTV footage capturing a violent altercation at Manchester Airport, which allegedly involved three police officers being assaulted, has been presented to a jury at Liverpool Crown Court. The incident, which occurred on July 23 of last year, saw brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, allegedly become aggressive after police were called to a disturbance at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals.

Prosecutors allege that prior to the confrontation with law enforcement, Mr. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz engaged in an assault on a civilian customer, Mr. Abdulkareem Ismaeil. The situation escalated when officers approached the two brothers in the terminal’s car park pay station. Airport camera footage, viewed from multiple angles, reportedly depicts what the prosecution describes as a “high level of violence” directed by the defendants towards the responding officers.

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz faces charges of assaulting PC Marsden and PC Ward, causing them actual bodily harm, in addition to the alleged assault on Mr. Ismaeil. His brother, Muhammad Amaad, is accused of assaulting PC Marsden, also causing actual bodily harm. Both defendants, who hail from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court heard that as police attempted to apprehend Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, who was allegedly resisting arrest near a payment machine, Muhammad Amaad intervened. Prosecutors detailed that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz allegedly delivered ten punches, including a headbutt that struck PC Ward, causing her to fall. Muhammad Amaad is accused of launching six punches towards firearms officer PC Marsden. Further allegations against Mohammed Fahir Amaaz include kicking PC Marsden from behind and elbowing PC Cook twice. The confrontation intensified as Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, with his arm around PC Marsden’s neck, fell to the ground with the officer. During the struggle, PC Marsden reportedly attempted to use his Taser on Mohammed Fahir Amaaz.

PC Marsden testified that he approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz with the intent to “prevent his escape or any opportunity to escape” and to gain control of an individual who had allegedly assaulted a member of the public. He described being met with immediate resistance and a clenching of fists when he attempted to guide Mr. Amaaz away. The officer, in full uniform, stated he did not feel it was necessary to explicitly identify himself as a police officer. Faced with escalating resistance, PC Marsden decided to attempt to handcuff Mr. Amaaz, a struggle that proved difficult as he tried to manoeuvre the suspect’s hands behind his back.

The court heard that PC Marsden, fearing he might be headbutted, tried to control Mohammed Fahir Amaaz’s head. During the altercation, PC Marsden felt an “immense weight of pressure” and his firearm shifted, leading to a terrifying fear that his weapon could be taken, posing a “lethal threat to anyone in the vicinity.” He testified that he was receiving “blows from all directions” from Muhammad Amaad, describing the force as “the hardest I have ever felt in my life.” His glasses were knocked off, severely impairing his vision, and he was unaware of the whereabouts of his colleagues during the alleged assaults, feeling they were either unable to assist or preoccupied.

Remarkably, PC Marsden stated that no members of the public intervened to help him during the ordeal. Instead, he observed onlookers filming the events on their phones. The trial is ongoing.