An armed officer who was filmed kicking a teenager in the face as he lay prone on the ground is facing possible criminal charges, the police watchdog has said, as community leaders attempted to calm tensions over the “barbaric” assault.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said on Friday it was exploring a criminal prosecution against the unnamed officer, who has been suspended by Greater Manchester police (GMP).
The officer is being investigated by the IOPC over his use of force on 19-year-old Muhammed Fahir as well as his use of Pava spray on a second man at Manchester airport on Tuesday night.
Footage of the incident has provoked widespread revulsion and triggered two nights of protests in Rochdale and Manchester.
The IOPC regional director Catherine Bates said: “We can confirm we are conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force during events which took place on 23 July at Manchester airport. We are arranging to interview a police constable under criminal caution as soon as possible.
“I have today met one of the men who was involved and his family members to outline our investigation and we will continue to update them and Greater Manchester police as our inquiries progress. We will be speaking to the man involved in the second incident as soon as we can.
“The family has asked me to reiterate their call for peace and wish to stress that they do not condone any acts of violence as a result of this incident.”
The IOPC said it would interview the officer under caution as soon as possible. Following an investigation that includes police bodyworn footage and testimony from witnesses, a file will be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether to charge him.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, urged people to let the IOPC investigation proceed “without rushing to judgment”, as he reiterated a call for calm after “an intense and difficult week”.
He added: “What people here don’t want … is politicians without possession of the facts exploiting the situation for their own political agenda with zero regard for the effect on the ground in communities in Greater Manchester.
“Things are now moving forward. The right steps are being taken and people’s voices are being heard. It’s in everyone’s interests that from here we proceed with things in a measured and peaceful way.”
Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, earlier said the “traumatised” family wanted to make clear they had “no political agenda whatsoever” and called for “calm in all communities”.
There has been growing concern over the way figures including Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and George Galloway have appeared to inflame tensions over the footage since it went viral on social media on Wednesday.
Little is known about the incident that prompted police to be called to reports of an assault at Manchester airport’s terminal 2 at 8.25pm on Tuesday, although it is understood to have begun on a flight from Pakistan on which Fahir’s mother was a passenger.
GMP initially said three of its officers were “punched to the ground” and “subject to a violent assault”, with a female officer sustaining a broken nose.
In its first statement, the force said there was a “clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken from them”.
On Friday, Burnham said he had “some concerns” that GMP’s initial statement “didn’t get to the heart of what people were concerned about” with the footage, which shows Fahir lying face down on the ground with his arms by his side when an armed officer kicks him with force in the face before stamping on his head.
The male officer then turns his Taser on another man sitting on a bench and orders him to get down. As the man kneels on the floor with his hands behind his head, the officer stamps on his left leg and hits him around the back of the head with his Taser.
On Friday evening, GMP chief constable Stephen Watson said: “It is a source of profound regret that this week’s incident at Manchester airport has caused shock and upset in some of our communities.
“Throughout this week, senior officers have been meeting with community representatives to ensure their voices are heard and this will continue – we are at one with the best instincts of those engaged in appealing for calm.
“While we are constrained in publicly releasing further information or footage about the incident due to the conduct and criminal investigations, we are committed to providing the fullest practical assistance to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
