Police officer suspended after Manchester airport kicking video

A police officer has been suspended after a video circulated online of a man being kicked and stamped on the head at Manchester Airport.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed an officer had been removed from all duties after a “thorough review of further information” of the incident, which took place on Tuesday.

The footage showed a uniformed male officer holding a Taser over the man who was lying on the ground at Terminal 2 before striking him twice.

The force said it understood the “deep concerns” that had been “widely raised” after the video sparked a protest outside Rochdale police station.

Crowds could be heard chanting “shame on you” at the demonstration where hundreds of people had gathered on Wednesday night.

In the build up to the incident shown in the clip, a police spokesman said that firearms officers had been punched to the ground after trying to make an arrest following a fight in the airport.

There was a “clear risk” their weapons could be taken from them, he said, adding all three had been taken to hospital, one with a broken nose.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of assault and affray.

The force said in its latest statement that it would “continue to meet” with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives to discuss concerns raised about the footage.

It said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the incident.