Nigel Farage has called the decision to charge two brothers six months after a brawl at Manchester Airport ‘long overdue’ – as the pair’s family criticised the decision not to pursue a prosecution against one of the police officers caught up in the incident.
Protests erupted in July after videos of the incident shared online showed an officer kicking 20-year-old Mohammed Amaaz during an attempted arrest of him and his 25-year-old brother Muhammed Amaad.
But dramatic CCTV footage later emerged showing that the three officers had been attacked, leaving a WPC with a broken nose and another officer slumped on the floor.
Last month, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) apparently no closer to announcing charges against the brothers, Nigel Farage hired two solicitors to bring a case against them.
He contrasted prosecutors’ slow progress with bringing charges against the pair with the ultra-fast prosecution of far-right figures ‘who said unpleasant things on social media’ and suggested this was evidence of a ‘two-tier’ justice system.
Now the CPS has said the two men have been charged with assaults on police officers on July 23 and that none of the police officers will face charges.
Mohammed Amaaz is charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault, while Muhammed Amaad, 25, is charged with causing actual bodily harm.
Mr Farage and his deputy Richard Tice said today that the charges were ‘long overdue’.
Video footage of the incident on July 23 at Manchester Airport went viral on social media and sparked protests across the country
Mohammed Amaaz, 20, (left) with his brother Muhammed Amaad, 25, (right) and their lawyer (pictured centre)
Nigel Farage threatened to launch a private prosecution against the brothers
It’s obvious the CPS have only charged the attackers today because of the pressure applied by Reform UK MPs,’ they said.
They added they expect a parallel investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to ‘exonerate’ the police officers, adding: ‘Nothing less will be acceptable.
But Aamer Anwar, representing the brothers, said: ‘The family feel betrayed by both the IOPC and CPS, but neither organisation has a track record of delivering justice where allegations of police violence are involved.
‘To be clear nobody should be above the law and the question asked at the very start was what possible justification can there be for the use of excessive, disproportionate and potentially lethal force against any civilian who is incapacitated by a Taser and poses no threat.
‘At that point, it remains the case that a decision is still to be made whether officers from the GMP should face disciplinary proceedings, following a series of complaints raised by six members of the public, including our clients in relation to the incident.’
The altercation, in the airport’s Terminal Two, allegedly happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight.
The two defendants will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on January 16, 2025.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he was satisfied with the CPS’ decision.
Mohammed Amaaz pictured near to his home in Rochdale
Brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, have been charged with assaults on police officers at Manchester Airport on July 23 – pictured is Terminal 3
‘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 at Manchester Airport earlier this year,’ he said.
‘I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers.
‘I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome. Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved.’
Mr Watson said the force would continue to ‘cooperate’ with the IOPC’s misconduct investigation into the incident.
‘Whilst co-operating fully with the IOPC in the discharge of their independent investigation into the conduct of our officers, GMP has offered support to our officers and will continue to do in the coming months,’ he said.
‘I know that these matters have understandably generated a great deal of debate, scrutiny and speculation.
‘We now have specific charging decisions and the court proceedings must be allowed to progress without the prejudice or taint that can emerge as a result of misplaced commentary, speculation or the sharing of digital content.’
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘Following our review of an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service has today issued charges against two individuals.
‘This was a high-profile incident that attracted significant public interest and media coverage at the time, and we have worked closely from the outset with investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Greater Manchester Police.
‘We have reviewed all the available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports and other material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider.
‘Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers.’
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson (pictured) welcomed today’s decision by the CPS
A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: ‘We are aware of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to take no further action against police officers involved in a series of arrests at Manchester Airport on July 23.
‘Our independent investigation into the use of force by police on six people during the incident continues and is nearing completion.
‘Throughout the investigation, during which two officers were interviewed under criminal caution in relation to alleged assaults during the incident on July 23, we shared relevant evidence with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), as it became available, to assist with making a swift decision in this case.
‘On Monday, we shared the final such piece of evidence with the CPS to consider potential charges.
‘We will now work to conclude the few remaining lines of inquiry as quickly as possible.
‘At that point, we will decide whether anyone serving with GMP should face disciplinary proceedings, and we will reach a decision on a series of complaints raised by six members of the public in relation to the incident.
‘It was important for events at Manchester Airport on July 23 to be carefully investigated.
‘The IOPC and GMP investigations are separate, and with different remits, but between them ensure there is an appropriate level of scrutiny of these matters.’