‘They’ve killed my son’
Mum’s cry during airport chaos as she claims officer tasered her face
A GRANDMOTHER was allegedly tasered in the face by a police officer who kicked her son in the head.
Shameem Akhtar, 56, screamed “they’ve killed my son” in Urdu as Fahir Amaaz, 19, lay on the ground during the incident at Manchester airport on July 23.
Greater Manchester Police is investigating after footage of the incident – in which one officer suffered a broken nose – sparked protests after appearing online.
Shameem held a press conference yesterday alongside Fahir and her other son, Muhammad Amaad, 25, to “set the record straight” about the incident.
The family’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said: “The family have been subjected to horrific racist and Islamophobic abuse on social media, and there has been a campaign of disinformation in an attempt to justify alleged police violence.”
He added: “If the two young men sat next to me, and seen on video, stand accused of criminality, they must face robust, due legal process.
“The young men sat next to me do not have a single criminal conviction, not even a speeding ticket.
“In fact, members of the family are serving police officers with Greater Manchester Police and other members of the family in other areas of the country.
“Mr Amaad himself has undergone an interview process to join the GMP.”
CAMERAS
An officer has been suspended and is facing a criminal investigation following the incident, which is being probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The family yesterday made further allegations of police mistreatment, claiming officers did not have their body cameras on. They also say an officer told Muhammad he would “kill” him.
They also claimed Fahir had been dragged out of view from CCTV cameras and other police officers, before one knelt on his neck and called him a “dirty c***”.
A photo of Shameem with a large bruise under her left eye was also shown to reporters. The family claimed she had been tasered in the face in front of her six-year-old grandson.
They say Shameem had been the target of racist abuse from another passenger on her Qatar Airways flight before “pandemonium” later broke out in the airport. He claimed that the mum was extremely upset after the passenger called her “a P***” and continued his abuse by shoving her with his bags in the baggage hall.
Following the release of the footage last month, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, urged people to “take a step back” and allow the authorities to carry out their investigations.
Fahir and Muhammad were among four men arrested on suspicion of affray and assault.
GMP said: “Investigations are ongoing. We are fully co-operating with the independent investigation, while actively pursuing lines of inquiry. “We have obtained CCTV footage and are continuing to appeal for witnesses.”