A police officer involved in an incident at Manchester Airport has been “removed from operational duties” after “shocking” footage went viral.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the force is also making a “voluntary referral” to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
The officer, who was accompanied by two other taser-wielding officers, later struck another man on the back of the head.
More officers rushed to join the trio at Terminal 2, with onlookers shouting: “Oh, s**t.”
Four people were arrested as a result of the violence
Updating the public about the incident, Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: “We know that a film of an incident at Manchester Airport that is circulating widely shows an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about.
“The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm.
“In advance of what is shown in the footage available, we were called to reports of an assault at Terminal 2, Manchester Airport at 8.25pm on Tuesday 23 July.
“The alleged suspect was seen on CCTV at a ticket machine in the car park and officers attended the location to arrest him.
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A separate statement was issued by Greater Manchester Police earlier today
GMP
“During our response, three officers were assaulted. One female officer suffered a broken nose and the other officers were forced to the ground and suffered injuries which required hospital treatment.
“One male officer has been removed from operational duties and we are making a voluntary referral of our policing response to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
“Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police.
“Two other men have also been arrested on suspicion of affray and assault of an emergency worker.”
An incident unfolded at Manchester Airport yesterday afternoon
The 44-second video, which circulated on social media this afternoon, raised serious questions about what sparked the incident.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed earlier that the incident came after a female police officer sustained a broken nose and three officers were subject to a “violent assault”.
In a previous statement, the force 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 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.”
Three officers were taken to hospital (stock image)
GETTY
The statement added: “As the attending officers were firearms officers, there was a clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken from them.
“Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
“We acknowledge the concerns of the conduct within the video, and our Professional Standards Directorate are assessing this.”
However, some social media users were left outraged by the conduct of officers.
The incident took place at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2GETTYOne said: “It doesn’t matter what happened prior to assaulting civilians who were at that time clearly not fighting.”
The incident comes after an investigation was launched into Greater Manchester Police.
The force was found to have unlawfully arrested and stripped search several women.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham commissioned Dame Vera Baird to interview 15 women and men who had complained about the force’s treatment.
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