A man who sparked nationwide protests after being kicked by police at Manchester Airport has been convicted of violently assaulting two female officers and a passenger in an incident that divided public opinion across Britain.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court today of attacking PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook in the Terminal 2 car park pay station on 23 July last year. The jury also convicted him of headbutting holidaymaker Abdulkareem Ismaeil, whom he had accused of racially abusing his mother on an incoming flight.
However, the 11-strong jury could not reach majority verdicts on either Amaaz or his elder brother Muhammed Amaad, 26, for assault causing actual bodily harm on PC Zachary Marsden, the armed officer later filmed kicking Amaaz in the head. The Crown Prosecution Service will now consider whether to seek a retrial on those charges.
Viral Footage Sparked Fierce Debate
The case ignited fierce public debate after mobile phone footage showed PC Marsden kicking and stamping on Amaaz’s head whilst he lay prone on the ground. The shocking images went viral on social media, prompting protests outside Rochdale Police Station with demonstrators holding ‘Black Lives Matter’ placards and calling for the police to be defunded.
Stand Up To Racism organised demonstrations in Manchester following the incident, with protesters blocking tram tracks near St Peter’s Square, causing severe delays through the city centre. The protests reflected wider tensions about police conduct and racial justice that had been building since the global Black Lives Matter movement of 2020.
But public opinion shifted dramatically when leaked CCTV footage revealed the violent assault on officers that had occurred just seconds before PC Marsden’s controversial response. The footage showed what prosecutors described as a “high level of violence” against three police officers who had approached the brothers at the airport.
The Violent Confrontation
The incident began when police were called to reports of an altercation at the Starbucks café in Terminal 2 arrivals. Amaaz allegedly headbutted customer Abdulkareem Ismaeil following accusations of racial abuse directed at the brothers’ mother during their flight.
Minutes later, three officers – PC Zachary Marsden and PC Ellie Cook, both armed firearms officers, and unarmed PC Lydia Ward – approached the brothers at the car park pay station. What followed was captured on multiple CCTV cameras from different angles.
Junior counsel Adam Birkby argued that Amaaz threw 10 punches, including one to the face of Pc Ward that knocked her to the floor. PC Ward suffered a broken nose from the assault. Amaad aimed six punches at firearms officer Pc Marsden, the court heard.
The prosecution also alleged that Amaaz kicked Pc Marsden and hit firearms officer Pc Cook twice with his elbow. The younger brother allegedly punched PC Marsden from behind before PC Cook discharged her Taser, with Amaaz maintaining his grip around PC Marsden’s neck as both fell to the ground.
Officers Describe “Hardest Blows Ever Felt”
Giving evidence, PC Marsden told the court he had approached with the intention of taking “immediate control” and escorting Amaaz away from the crowd to arrest him. He said he placed his hands on Mr Amaaz’s left arm, but said he was “met with immediate resistance” and that he felt the suspect “clench his fists.
The officer described receiving “blows from all directions” after the second man intervened. When asked about the level of force used against him, Pc Marsden replied: “I can confidently say they were the hardest I have ever felt in my life.”
He told the court: “I firmly believe had he got up he would have overpowered me. I was starting to feel the strain of those hits, I was unbalanced, I was exhausted. I didn’t have the energy to keep in that fight”. The officer added: “I had never seen anyone react to the police before in such a violent attack. They were so intent on causing us harm.”
PC Marsden noted that no members of the public attempted to help during the assault, saying he saw people watching and recording on their phones. “I felt that crowd had been hostile. No-one wanted to help us,” he testified.
Defence Claims Officers “Out of Control”
The defence painted a starkly different picture, arguing the officers had used “unlawful force” and grabbed Amaaz from behind without identifying themselves. Defence barrister Imran Khan KC suggested PC Marsden had “lost control” during the incident, particularly when the officer later used incapacitant spray on a bystander.
The brothers claimed they did not realise those confronting them were police officers and were acting in self-defence. Amaaz told the court he thought he was going to be “murdered” by police during the confrontation.
Khan argued the incident could have been avoided, telling jurors: “One might think that the easiest thing to have done would have been to say ‘excuse me sir, would you mind stepping outside so I can have a word with you'”.
150 Days Until Charging Decision
The case highlighted broader tensions about police accountability and the speed of justice. It took 150 days for prosecutors to announce their charging decisions – a delay that drew widespread criticism given the high-profile nature of the case.
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “This was a high-profile incident that attracted significant public interest and media coverage at the time. The CPS worked closely with the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Greater Manchester Police throughout their investigation.
Crucially, prosecutors concluded that PC Marsden would not face any charges for his actions. We examined potential offences of actual bodily harm, and common assault, and reviewed expert evidence in the form of an independent report from an expert in the use of police force”, Ferguson explained. The combination of evidence and expert opinion meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction” against the officer.
Mixed Verdicts Reflect Complex Case
The jury’s verdicts reflected the complexity of the case. They unanimously found Amaaz guilty of assault by harm against PC Ward and common assault against passenger Ismaeil. By a majority of ten to one, they convicted him of assault by beating against PC Cook.
However, the jury could not reach the required majority of at least ten members agreeing on charges against either brother relating to PC Marsden – the officer who delivered the controversial kick. This split decision leaves key questions unresolved about the most contentious aspects of the confrontation.
Amaaz, a student from Rochdale, showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered. His brother Amaad, 26, a former KFC assistant manager, also from Rochdale, awaits the CPS decision on whether he will face a retrial.
Wider Impact on Policing Debate
The Manchester Airport case became a flashpoint in ongoing debates about police conduct and racial justice in Britain. Unlike the sustained Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death in America, this incident revealed how quickly public sentiment can shift when fuller context emerges.
The case demonstrated the power of social media to shape narratives – first condemning police actions based on partial footage, then swinging to support officers when CCTV revealed the preceding violence. It also highlighted ongoing tensions about police use of force, particularly in communities where trust in law enforcement remains fragile.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson welcomed the CPS decision to charge the brothers, stating: “I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public. All officers involved continue to receive support from Greater Manchester Police and the Police Federation.
The verdicts come at a time when police forces across Britain face scrutiny over their conduct and accountability. The Manchester Airport incident serves as a reminder of the split-second decisions officers must make in violent confrontations, whilst also highlighting the importance of full transparency when force is used.
As the CPS considers whether to retry the remaining charges, this case will likely continue to influence discussions about policing, protest, and justice in modern Britain.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
