A trial is currently underway at Manchester Airport after 21-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz admitted that his violent attacks on police officers and a passenger were unjustified. The incident took place in July 2024 and involved Amaaz headbutting a passenger and assaulting two female officers before police used a Taser to subdue him. Among the officers involved was armed PC Zachary Marsden.
The confrontation became violent when Amaaz was seen punching PC Lydia Ward, who sustained a broken nose, and PC Ellie Cook during the chaotic arrest. Amaaz acknowledged in court that his actions were unlawful but claimed he acted in self-defence, believing that PC Marsden intended to murder him and his brother, Muhammad Amaad.
Footage shown during the trial revealed PC Marsden kicking Amaaz in the face after being punched multiple times. Despite this, Amaaz accepted that his violent reactions could not be justified as a response to the police actions. During cross-examination, he agreed with the statement that his violence was not justified.
Although evidence showed that Amaaz struck female officers Ward and Cook, he denied recognising their gender at the time of the incident, stating that “it’s all happening in a matter of seconds.” He also maintained that he holds “nothing but love and respect for women.”
Both Amaaz and his 26-year-old brother, Amaad, who are from Rochdale, are also facing trial on charges of causing actual bodily harm to PC Marsden. They deny these charges and insist that they acted purely in self-defence during the July incident.
The trial continues as the court examines the complex events involving police use of force, violent resistance, and claims of self-defence at a busy pay station within Manchester Airport.
Originally published by UKNIP.
