Manchester Airport attacker found guilty of assaulting police officers

Amaaz was convicted of the assault of two female officers, PC Lydia Ward causing actual bodily harm and the assault of emergency worker PC Ellie Cook.

He was also found guilty of an earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at the airport.

The jury were unable to reach a verdict on one count of assault of another police officer, Zachary Marsden, involving Amaaz and his brother Muhammed Amaad, 26., with the CPS now seeking a retrial.

CCTV footage from the assault was shown to the trial jury, showing the moment a police officer's nose was broken.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences at the beginning of the trial.

Police appeared to be knocked to the floor during the assault in their attempt to contain the two brothers.

PC Zachary Marsden and PC Ellie Cook, who were armed, alongside unarmed PC Lydia Ward, approached the brothers at a paystation in the terminal's car park.

It followed a reported incident where Amaaz assaulted a customer at a Starbucks cafe in the arrivals area.

Amaaz threw 10 punches during the confrontation, including one that knocked PC Ward to the floor, and struck PC Cook twice with his elbow.

The Crown Prosecution Service is to seek a retrial after the jury could not reach a verdict on allegations that the two brothers assaulted PC Zachary Marsden, causing actual bodily harm.

Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, said: "Greater Manchester Police is actively supportive of a retrial in respect of the two counts where a verdict was not achieved. We remain fully committed to providing the prosecution team with every assistance needed to reach an outcome on these matters.

"Whilst assaults on police officers are sadly not uncommon - 44 of my officers are assaulted every week across GM - such attacks can never be justified.

"Our officers are decent people who routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. They deserve our respect and support."

During the trial, Junior counsel Adam Birkby said: "Mr Amaaz, while prone, lifts his head towards the officers. PC Marsden kicks Mr Amaaz around the head area. PC Marsden stamps his foot towards the crown of Mr Amaaz's head area but doesn't appear to connect with Mr Amaaz."

PC Marsden told the court he approached with the intention of taking "immediate control" but was "met with immediate resistance" when he placed his hands on Amaaz's arm.

He said: "My initial fear is that someone is trying to get my gun. If someone gained my firearm, it would pose an immediate lethal threat to anyone in the vicinity."

The officer described receiving "blows from all directions" from the second man. When asked about the force level, PC Marsden replied: "I can confidently say they were the hardest I have ever felt in my life."

It is understood that no members of the public intervened to help during the incident.

The court used body-worn camera footage from all three officers involved in the incident.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Our thoughts are with the police officers who were the victims of this vicious attack by Mohammed Fahir Amaaz.

"When this first happened, Yvette Cooper seemed more interested in criticising the police and siding with the attackers than standing up for brave officers who get injured in the line of duty."

He added: "A female officer had her nose broken by this vile thug, and the Home Secretary had nothing to say about that when it happened.

"Instead, her statement referred to the importance of the 'trust of communities' and questioned police standards.

"They need to get their priorities straight. It is shameful that Yvette Cooper’s statement did not include any mention of the three police officers who were attacked at Manchester airport last year even though it has been reported that she was aware they had been injured when she made it.

"This is just another example of Labour’s two-tier approach to law and order. Yvette Cooper has questions to answer.”

The Home Secretary responded to critism when asked about this incident on Times Radio earlier this month.

She said: "I have always and continually offered strong support to police officers, who face appalling situations every day of the week [and] I have spoken with Greater Manchester Police about this incident to ensure the officers get the support they need because it is important that they do.

"At the time, Greater Manchester Police referred that case to make sure it was fully investigated, and it was.

"It has been investigated properly by the CPS, who bought charges and to make sure that all the circumstances were investigated.

"But let’s be clear, police officers face the most appalling situations every single day of the week. They show incredible bravery and incredible resilience when they do and it’s right we should support our police officers, just as we did last night.

"It was the 15^th Police Bravery Awards that I went to last night that I have been to in a row.

"I have been to every one every year for the past 15 years, exactly because I think it's right to support our brave police officers."

The chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation said the conviction shows the “worst side of police work our officers are faced with”.

Mike Peake said in a statement: "Police officers in Manchester work in a difficult, dangerous, and dynamic world where there is no such thing as a routine incident. They deserve support in that work from the public and politicians.

"The distressing scenes we have seen during this trial show some of the worst side of police work that our officers are faced with. 35 officers are assaulted in Greater Manchester Police every week. We are bloodied and we are bruised.

"We have been supporting the officers concerned in the incident at Manchester Airport last summer since it occurred. And as a Federation we will continue to do so. We will not be commenting further at this time."