A criminal investigation has been launched into a video that has emerged in which a police officer is filmed violently attacking a man at Manchester Airport, hitting him in the head.
This incident sparked protests. The video, taken at Manchester Airport (northern England), caused controversy strong reactions in Britain.
“We have informed Manchester Police Officer that he is under criminal investigation for assault,” the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said in a press release.
The officer, who was suspended yesterday, is also under the microscope of a disciplinary investigation, the IOPC added. District director Kathryn Bates said the officer would be questioned “as soon as possible”.
Furthermore, he stressed that the victim’s family asked him to “repeat his call for peace”.
The incident
In the video, a man can be seen lying face down on the floor and being kicked hard in the head twice by a police officer.
According to Manchester Police, three officers were attacked, including one with a broken nose, and four men were arrested. As he said, police were called to a fight.
For the second day running, a demonstration was held outside Rochdale Police Station in Manchester on Thursday night, with hundreds of people taking part.
Slogans, such as “there is no justice, there is no peace, not in the racist police” could be heard during yesterday’s demonstration, which continued on the streets of Manchester, with participants blocking trams and cars.
Sources: AMPE, AFP, Reuters