Watch: Armed policeman ‘stamps on man’s head’ at Manchester Airport

An armed police officer has been filmed apparently launching a kick and a stamp at a man’s head during an incident at Manchester Airport.

Greater Manchester Police said officers called to an “altercation” between members of the public were subjected to a “violent assault” while trying to make an arrest.

Three officers were taken to hospital following the incident on Wednesday afternoon.

Four men were arrested at the scene in Terminal 2 on suspicion of affray and assault on emergency workers.

A spokesman for the force said it “acknowledged concerns” regarding the conduct of the officers and the incident was being assessed by its professional standards directorate.

A police officer has been removed from operational duties, police confirmed on Wednesday night.

Wasim Chaudhry, the Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable, said the force understood “the immense feeling of concern and worry that people feel about our response”.

“We have already referred our actions to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and will be in further discussions with them today,” he said.

“We have spent the evening listening to community feedback and will continue to engage with communities and elected members to maintain strong partnership links and understand local views.”

A protest later erupted outside Rochdale Police Station following outrage over the incident, after footage was shared online.

Mr Chaudhry said the protest “concluded safely, without incident”.

In the footage, which has been circulated widely online, a male officer can be seen aiming a taser at a man as he is lying on the ground.

People are heard shouting in the background before the police officer appears to kick the man’s head and bring his foot down on it.

Onlookers are told to “move back” before a female officer appears to draw her taser and aim it at other people.

Woman officer’s nose broken during incident

A moment later, the male officer walks over to another man sitting on a bench before pointing his taser at him, telling him to “get down”.

As the man begins to move to the ground with his arms in the air, the officer then appears to kick him.

A force spokesman said one of the three officers in the video had hospital treatment after suffering a broken nose.

The spokesman said: “Officers were called to reports of an altercation between members of the public in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.

“Whilst attempting to arrest one of the suspects of the earlier altercation, three officers were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground.

“A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three were taken to hospital for treatment.

“As the attending officers were firearms officers, there was a clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken from them.

“Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.

“We acknowledge the concerns of the conduct within the video, and our professional standards directorate is assessing this.”