Two men charged over Manchester Airport incident as police officers cleared

Two men have been charged in connection with the shocking incident which unfolded at Manchester Airport earlier this year.

Mohammed Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, are being prosecuted for allegedly assaulting police officers who were responding to a dispute in Terminal 2.

At the time, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) released a statement which said: "Officers were called to reports of an altercation between members of the public in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.

"Whilst attempting to arrest one of the suspects of the earlier altercation, three officers were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground. A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three were taken to hospital for treatment."

The force said four men were arrested at the scene, while a police constable was subsequently placed under criminal investigation for assault.

In the months that have passed since the incident, GMP has been investigating the members of the public who were involved.

Dually, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been carrying out a probe into the actions of the officers who were present.

Today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced the outcome.

Amaaz has been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault.

Meanwhile Amaad is facing charges of causing actual bodily harm, the CPS said.

Charges are not being brought against any police officers.

Amaaz and Amaad will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on 16 January.

GMP's Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, revealed that the suspension of an officer involved in the incident had also know been lifted.

In a statement, he said: "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.

"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," Waston continued.

"The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate fully in this regard. 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.

"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 his team had reviewed masses of video footage, witness statements, expert reports and other material.

"Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers," he said, as per the MEN.

“We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers. 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, to inform this decision.

"We always ensure police training is also taken into account in the context of these decisions, and in this case the combination of evidence, and the expert opinion meant there was no realistic prospect of conviction.We acknowledge that in this case as in any other, the strength of feeling has been high."