The police watchdog is to probe the release of viral footage of an incident at Manchester Airport.
A mobile phone video clip of an officer kicking and appearing to stamp on the head of Fahir Amaaz, 19, went viral on social media as he and his brother, Muhammed Amaad, 25, were restrained by officers.
Further footage, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, emerged days later which showed the immediate lead-up to the incident on July 23.
This includes footage appearing to show two female police officers being hit to the ground before Amaaz was incapacitated with a Taser.
An investigation has been launched
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This is the second incident involving police at Manchester Airport in as many monthsXIn the footage, a male officer could be seen in the footage aiming a Taser at a man as he lay on the ground.
The officer then appeared to kick and stamp on the man's head. The scenes of chaos continued as a female officer appeared to aim a Taser at other people. The story, first published on July 24, sparked controversy and protests in the city centre.
In a second video taken moments earlier, the footage captured a group of people standing around a ticket machine inside a car park. Three officers, one male and two females, appeared to walk through the group of people towards a man. An officer appeared to grab a man's hands in an attempt to restrain him.
The male officer then appeared to push the man's head down as his colleagues stood beside him. Another member of the public then grabbed the male officer before punches were thrown and the detained man broke free. That man then threw punches, the video appeared to show.
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A Stand Up To Racism demonstration in Manchester following the footage
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The Manchester Evening News (MEN) says it received letters from the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), seeking access to the CCTV footage and asked questions designed to identify the source.
The MEN has declined to enter into any discussions about the source. Editor Sarah Lester said: "The protection of sources of information is a key journalistic principle."
On August 16, Greater Manchester Police said it had submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to 'a series of alleged criminal offences'. Four men, arrested on suspicion of affray and assault remain on bail.
Two police officers remain under criminal investigation by the IOPC for assault, one of whom has been suspended.
The Manchester Evening News has declined to reveal the source of the CCTV
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An IOPC spokesperson said: "Following a press conference on 6 August, 2024, when concerns were raised about the source of a video provided to the media, we received a conduct referral from Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
"This referral, whilst considering other possibilities, relates to whether someone employed by the force may have shared footage relating to an active police investigation without a legitimate policing purpose.
"We are in the early stages of an independent investigation, which will consider whether there is any evidence to suggest this was provided by someone working for GMP and, if so, the justification for this."