A police officer is facing a criminal investigation after being suspected of leaking footage of a violent scrap at Manchester Airport to the press last year.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched a probe into the officer’s alleged actions after video footage of a confrontation in a terminal car park in July 2024 emerged in the media.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was ultimately convicted of assaulting two emergency service workers and a member of the public – with a retrial on other charges for both he and his older brother due to take place next year.
Alongside this, the watchdog is investigating an unnamed Greater Manchester Police officer over suspicions that he leaked footage of the incident to the press a few days after it first came to light.
Early footage of the fracas showed a man later identified as PC Zachary Marsden kicking Amaaz in the head.
It sparked accusations of police brutality and protests outside Rochdale Police Station and mayor Andy Burnham‘s office in Manchester city centre.
But days later, new footage came to light that appeared to lend additional context to the incident, showing an altercation between two men and three police officers in the moments before PC Marsden was seen to kick Amaaz in the head.
The video, first published by the Manchester Evening News, made headlines around the world – and sparked a regulatory probe amid concerns it had been leaked to the press from within the police.
The outlet has since said it was contacted by the police looking for information on how the video was obtained.
Editor Sarah Lester said, however, that the requests were denied, adding: ‘The protection of sources of information is a key journalistic principle.’
The IOPC said today that it had informed the officer suspected of leaking the footage that he was facing a criminal investigation.
A spokesperson told the Mail in a statement: ‘We can confirm a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer was recently informed they are being criminally investigated over an allegation they shared footage relating to an active police investigation into an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024 without any legitimate policing purpose.
‘We began our independent investigation following a referral from the force in September 2024, after concerns were raised about the source of a video provided to the media.
‘We will now investigate these allegations and obtain an account from the officer concerned in due course.’
The officer is facing investigation for a number of potential offences.
These are: corrupt or improper exercise of police power, the unlawful obtaining of personal data, two offences under the Computer Misuse Act, misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.
It comes as a man was convicted of assaulting two emergency workers during the fracas following a trial last month.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was convicted of assaulting PC Lydia Ward, causing actual bodily harm, and assaulting emergency worker PC Ellie Cook on July 23.
He was also convicted of assaulting a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in the arrivals area of Manchester Airport earlier that day.
The jury could not reach verdicts on allegations that Amaaz and his older brother, 26-year-old Muhammad Amaad, assaulted PC Zachary Marsden causing actual bodily harm. They had maintained during the trial that they were acting in self-defence.
A retrial is scheduled for April next year. Amaaz remains in custody pending a bail application to be heard later this month.
The Crown Prosecution Service said last December it would not pursue charges against PC Marsden and another officer over their actions on that day.
However, both could yet face a fresh referral to the CPS or misconduct proceedings that may cost them their jobs.
The IOPC is still investigating the actions of both officers – but will likely hold off on making a decision until Amaaz and Amaad’s retrial concludes.
Barristers for Amaaz and Amaad had accused PC Marsden of being ‘out of control’ during the first trial, branding him ‘an uncontrolled bully with a badge’.
But following the jury’s verdicts, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, praised the officers for putting themselves in ‘harm’s way’ to tackle ‘outrageous criminal behaviour’.
