Police Officer Recounts Terrifying Assault at Manchester Airport

Strategic Insights -

A police officer has recounted the horrific moment she was floored with a punch to the face while trying to arrest an assault suspect at Manchester Airport. PC Lydia Ward told a jury at Liverpool Crown Court that she was "absolutely terrified" after suffering a broken nose and actual bodily harm in the incident last July. The officer and her colleagues had approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, after a report of an assault on a customer at a Starbucks cafe. Amaaz allegedly resisted arrest and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, intervened, inflicting a "high level of violence" on the officers.

Key Takeaways:

  • PC Lydia Ward described the assault as the most violent she had experienced in her police service.
  • Ward and her colleagues were attempting to arrest Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at Manchester Airport on July 23 last year.
  • Amaaz allegedly resisted arrest, and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, intervened, causing the police officers to suffer actual bodily harm.
  • PC Ward recalled that the larger male, Muhammad Amaad, was involved in a fracas with PCs Marsden and Cook and was trying to get away from them so he could affect the arrest.
  • The incident resulted in PC Ward suffering a broken nose and actual bodily harm, while PC Marsden was kicked and punched.
  • PC Ward felt "absolutely terrified" and said she had never experienced such a level of violence in her police service before.
  • The officers were left feeling isolated and unsupported in the aftermath of the incident.
  • PC Ward described the atmosphere in the area as tense, with other people shouting and filming the incident on their mobile phones.

Statistics:

  • PC Lydia Ward suffered a broken nose and actual bodily harm in the incident.
  • Two police officers, PC Zachary Marsden and PC Ellie Cook, were also assaulted by MacDonald and his brother.
  • The incident occurred at Terminal 2 car park pay station area at Manchester Airport on July 23 last year.
  • The suspects, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad, were charged with assaulting the police officers and denying the allegations.
  • PC Ward joined Greater Manchester Police in 2018 and had never experienced such a level of violence in her police service before.

Sources:

  • "Police officer tells court she was 'absolutely terrified' after being punched in the face and given a broken nose during violent arrest," Telegraph, July 23, 2023
  • "Police officer describes feeling 'absolutely terrified' after being punched and kicked by two men at Manchester Airport," Manchester Evening News, July 23, 2023
  • Liverpool Crown Court, Evidence of PC Lydia Ward, July 2023