Police Officer Recounts Terrifying Assault at Manchester Airport

Strategic Insights -

A police officer has testified that she was left "absolutely terrified" after being punched in the face by an assault suspect at Manchester Airport, suffering a broken nose in the incident. Pc Lydia Ward described the violence as "the worst I've ever experienced" and recounted the events leading up to the altercation. The incident occurred on July 23 last year, when Ward and two colleagues approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at a ticket machine after reports of a man who had headbutted a customer at a nearby Starbucks cafe.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pc Lydia Ward testified that she was "absolutely terrified" after being punched in the face by Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, during an arrest attempt at Manchester Airport.
  • Ward suffered a broken nose and described the violence as "the worst I've ever experienced" in her police service.
  • Amaaz allegedly resisted arrest and struggled with Pc Ward and her colleagues, Pc Zachary Marsden and Pc Ellie Cook.
  • Amaaz's brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, intervened and allegedly inflicted a "high level of violence" on the officers.
  • Ward pressed her police radio emergency button but the impact of the punch knocked the battery out, leaving her unable to call for assistance.
  • Other people in the pay station area were "shouting stuff" and "filming on their mobile phones," but nobody came to assist the officers.
  • Pc Ward described herself as "petite" and weighing eight stone, and deployed her Pava incapacitant spray against two men who approached Amaaz after he was on the floor.

Statistics:

  • 3 police officers were involved in the altercation: Pc Lydia Ward, Pc Zachary Marsden, and Pc Ellie Cook.
  • 1 suspect, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, is accused of assaulting 2 police officers, causing them actual bodily harm.
  • 1 other suspect, Muhammad Amaad, is accused of assaulting 1 police officer, causing actual bodily harm.
  • The incident occurred on July 23 last year at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2.

Sources:

  • Pc Lydia Ward's testimony
  • Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
  • PA Wire
  • Liverpool Crown Court