British police officer who kicked a man and stamped on his head suspended

A British police officer was suspended from duty today after a video posted on social media appeared to show him kicking and trampling on the head of a man lying on the ground at Manchester Airport.

Greater Manchester Police said the incident occurred when police were called to break up a fight in Terminal 2 of the airport. Three officers were attacked, one of whom suffered a broken nose. All three required hospital treatment. Four people were arrested.

“We understand the deep concerns that have been widely raised with us and will continue to meet with the people of Greater Manchester and elected representatives and discuss these feelings while this independent investigation is ongoing,” police said in a statement.

The incident came against a backdrop of growing distrust of the British police, following allegations of excessive use of force against ethnic minorities and scandals involving two serving police officers who were arrested for rape and murder.

An independent government-commissioned inquiry recently concluded that London’s Metropolitan Police Service was institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynistic.

However, a lawyer representing two of the men involved in the altercation at Manchester Airport said the people allegedly attacked were family members of a serving police officer.

Akhmed Yakoob told the BBC that the incident was an example of “police brutality” and that the family was traumatized.

“This man is now afraid to go to work,” he said. “He went and spoke to his supervisor today and the only reason he is not going to work is because he fears for his own safety and believes that just as his family members were victims, he could be a victim himself.”

The Manchester officer seen in the video was suspended after crowds gathered outside a police station to protest against police brutality.

Police said the demonstration ended “without incident.”

When asked about the video, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I saw it myself. I understand that concern.”

The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, appealed for calm and met with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is responsible for public order issues in the UK.

Burnham told the BBC there were “problems for both sides in this situation,” but added: “However, I want to make one thing very clear: it is right that the officer was suspended.”