The teenager whose head was kicked and stamped on by a Greater Manchester Police officer is related to another officer on the force, it was revealed today.
‘Disturbing’ footage emerged yesterday of Fahir Khan, 19, being pinned to the ground, tasered and kicked in the face by an officer sparking a public outcry and a protest outside Rochdale police station.
The teen’s older brother Amaad, 25, was also flung across the ground and forcibly held down by officers, while an older woman, believed to be the brother’s mother, was also pushed.
Now the family’s lawyer Akhmed Yakoob has revealed that another member of their family works for the Manchester police force but is ‘too afraid to go work’ following the ordeal.
In an update this afternoon the solicitor said: ‘I can tell you now that the people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s family, who is currently serving in the Greater Manchester Police force.
‘Disturbing’ footage emerged yesterday of Fahir Khan, 19, being pinned to the ground, tasered and kicked in the face by an officer
Footage of the attack – which also appeared to show Fahir and brother Amaad’s mother being shoved by officers – went viral online
The family’s lawyer Akhmed Yakoob (pictured) has revealed that another member of their family works for the Manchester police force but is ‘too afraid to go work’ following the ordeal.
Protester on the streets of Manchester as an anti-racism demonstrations gets underway in the city
‘This man is now afraid to go to work. He went in today and spoke to his supervisor. And the only reason he is not going to work because he is fearing for his own safety and he thinks like his family members who are the victims, he could be a victim.’
Fahir is said to be ‘fighting for his life’ in hospital with a CT scan revealing the teenager has a cyst on his brain, the lawyer added.
The update comes after one of the officers involved in the incident has been suspended by Greater Manchester Police pending an IOPC investigation, with protests expected in Rochdale later.
Meanwhile Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the incident was ‘not clear cut’ but was extremely ‘disturbing’.
Mr Yakoob, who has been dubbed the ‘TikTok lawyer’ and won a significant proportion of this year’s West Midlands mayoral election running on a pro-Gaza ticket, said that the video showed ‘police brutality.
‘Mohammed Fahir, his medical condition has worsened since last night. A CT scan has revealed there is a cyst on his brain. So please pray for his well being,’ he added.
‘Right now the main concern for us for me is that the family receive justice and this no longer happens again. Just imagine a first time visitor to the UK and they get to see the brutality from the UK police – they will not want to visit the UK again.
‘Well I wouldn’t if I see that sort of brutality by people who were meant to be the protectors of the public and not aggressors and oppressors.
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob (centre) with Fahir and Amaad Khan. He has said ‘justice must prevail’ after footage of the Manchester Airport incident went viral
Fahir Khan, 19, was kicked in the head by a Greater Manchester Police officer as he was restrained on the ground at Manchester Airport
At a press conference this afternoon, solicitor Akhmed Yakoob said his client had been told he has a cyst on his brain after falling unwell overnight
Former victims’ commissioner Dame Vera Baird (pictured) has slammed the footage, claiming the officer kicked Fahir’s head ‘like a football’
‘So it’s early stages right now, and I can’t go too much into the actual investigation. But I’m sure everyone here is here because they have seen the videos.’
The lawyer claims that the two brothers, who are well known charity workers in Rochdale, had gathered at their airport to welcome home their 56-year-old mother who had flown in from Pakistan.
He explained there had been an incident on the plane with another group of passengers that sparked a confrontation but did not elaborate any further details.
Mr Yakoob did not explain why police initially approached the family saying it was ‘not relevant’ and the ‘relevant issue’ was the heaalth and wellbeing of the family.
‘One thing I can say loud and clear is that nothing justifies the barbaric treatment from the police officers,’ he added. ‘Because as you can see from the videos that everybody has seen there was no threat whatsoever to the police or the public.
‘People are forgetting that the mother was assaulted as well. She got punched and kicked in the face.’
Fahir’s brother Amaad also broke his silence as he said: ‘The family’s all shook up with everything that’s happened. You’ve seen what happened to my mum.
‘There’s a lot we’re dealing with, my brother’s still in hospital getting a CT scan. He’s got a black eye. My brother is in a bad way. He is very shaken up.’
Throughout the video that was recorded on Tuesday night, Fahir, who is wearing a light blue hooded top, is seen being restrained on the floor as the officer boots him in the head and then stamps on top of it.
A second man was also seen being detained in the video – after being ordered off a chair, he appeared to be kicked and hit by the same officer. He has since been named as Amaad
Protester on the streets of Manchester as an anti-racism demonstrations gets underway in the city
His brother is seated a short distance away with his hands cupped behind his head. As he shouts and screams, the same officer who attacked Fahir pulls him to the ground and kicks and punches him.
Former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird described the footage as shocking, adding that the officer was ‘kicking the man’s head like a football’, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham described the video as ‘very disturbing’.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understood the public’s ‘concern’ around the footage. A large protest took place outside Rochdale police station last night – and further rallies are expected.
Tonight protests are underway in Manchester with some making their way to the Mayor’s office.
Mr Burnham told the BBC today: ‘That said, here’s where I want to be really clear: it is right that the officer has been suspended. That is the right action, it is abundantly clear to me that the right steps have been taken.
‘I would ask for calm because what I can assure people is that the right and proper steps have been taken in the right way.’
He has urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed in a ‘thorough and measured way because it has to be fair to everyone in the situation’.
Protester on the streets of Manchester as an anti-racism demonstrations gets underway in the city
Protesters gather outside Rochdale Police Station overnight to demonstrate against the chaotic arrest of four men at Manchester Airport
At the late night rally speakers used a megaphone to lead the crowd in chants of ‘GMP, shame on you’
Greater Manchester Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, said it had noted the suspension of the officer involved.
A spokesman said: ‘The matter is now under investigation – everyone has the right to a fair hearing where all sides of the story are told and context is provided.
‘As their staff association, we are supporting the officer concerned, and all of our colleagues who were involved in this incident, including those who were injured.
‘We would also like to thank the many members of the public who have contacted us offering support for our hard-working colleagues doing a difficult and dangerous job. It is appreciated.’
In a statement on Thursday morning, a force spokesman said: ‘Following a thorough review of further information that has become available in relation to an incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, Greater Manchester Police has suspended a police officer from all duties.
‘A referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full independent investigation.
‘We understand the deep concerns that have been widely raised with us, and will continue to meet and discuss these feelings with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives, whilst this independent investigation takes place.’
MailOnline has contacted GMP for further comment.