A COP left with a bloody nose in a brawl at Manchester Airport today slammed the yob who played the victim while treating her as a “punchbag”.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, sparked nationwide protests after accusing police of attacking him during the scuffle.
But he had actually lashed out at officers, who were called to arrest him after Amaaz headbutted passenger Abdulkareem Ismaeil in a Starbucks and punched him.
Amaaz displayed a “high level of violence” against PC Ellie Cook and PC Lydia Ward, who had approached him in the car park of Terminal 2.
He was previously convicted of assaulting PC Ward and PC Cook, as well as assaulting Abdulkareem in the Starbucks.
But Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad were cleared of causing a third officer – PC Zachary Marsden – assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
One of his victims, PC Ward, today blasted “coward” Amaaz as he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.
She said the thug “allowed the public to feel sorry for you” by playing the victim and told Amaaz: “You changed my face.”
PC Ward added: “I want you to know I am not weak.
“No matter how this has affected me or impacted on my life I will not allow you to see me as weak.
“You used me as a punch bag, but I will get back up and I will show you how strong I am.”
Footage showed Amaaz resisting arrest as the officers tried to move him away from a payment machine to cuff him.
He threw ten punches – including one to PC Ward’s face that sent her crashing to the ground with blood pouring from her nose.
Amaaz also twice struck firearms officer PC Cook with his elbow.
Both Amaaz and PC Marsden then fell to the ground before the officer got up and appeared to “stamp” his foot towards Amaaz’s head, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
As the brawl continued, the police officers got their Tasers out before managing to handcuff the brothers with the help of other cops.
At one point, PC Ward could be seen appearing to cry as she holds her nose.
Jurors heard PC Marsden suffered “post-concussion syndrome” and was left with a “severe headache” for three days, dizziness, forgetfulness and bruising and swelling.
PC Ward was left with a broken nose and needed surgery under general anaesthetic, it was said.
The court heard previously that the brothers had gone to meet their mum at the airport on July 23 last year.
She had been involved in some sort of incident with Abdulkareem either on their flight or shortly after it.
As the brothers passed by Starbucks, the mum pointed out Abdulkareem to her sons as he sat with his wife and children in the cafe.
Timeline of chaos
Footage of an incident at Manchester Airport between police officers and members of the public went viral on social media in July.
A timeline below sets out what happened:
July 23:
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), an altercation takes place between passengers from a Qatar Airways flight which arrives at Manchester Airport at 7.20pm.
A second incident, which police describe as a “violent altercation involving members of the public”, happens in the Starbucks of Terminal Two just after 8.20pm.
A third incident happens in the car park pay point area shortly before 8.30pm.
Brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25 and their mother Shameem Akhtar, 56, from Rochdale, are allegedly assaulted.
Police say three of their officers receive head injuries, including a broken nose.
Four men are arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
July 24:
A police officer is removed from operational duties after footage of the incident, appearing to show a man being kicked and having his head stamped on as he lies on the floor, is shared online.
Police make a voluntary referral of their response to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
That night, an estimated 200 people gather outside Rochdale police station to protest in response. GMP say the protest concludes “without incident”
July 25:
A GMP officer is suspended from all duties. The IOPC confirms it is independently investigating the level of force used.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says he has seen full footage of the incident, which shows a “fast-moving and complicated” situation with “issues for both sides”.
Protests in Manchester city centre that evening involve blocked roads and tram lines while videos online appear to show a handful of demonstrators with their faces covered, throwing eggs at Rochdale police station.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh says he has spoken to the family involved and they want to appeal for calm.
July 26:
The IOPC announces that a police constable is under criminal investigation for assault and has been told he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of professional standards, including his use of force.
Former Rochdale MP George Galloway visits the town and says he plans to meet the family involved.
July 27:
New footage, appearing to show events in the moments before the video which has already been shared, becomes public.
The Manchester Evening News publishes the video, which appears to show men throwing punches at officers.
Two female officers appear to be struck, with one ending up on the ground.
August 1:
Solicitor for the family, Aamer Anwar, says he has spoken with the IOPC about lodging a formal complaint against officers and says the family wants to understand on what legal basis Mr Burnham was shown the complete CCTV.
August 6:
The family and their lawyer hold a press conference in which they outline their version of events.
August 8:
The IOPC reveals a second officer is under criminal investigation for assault, relating to an incident shortly afterwards when two other men were arrested.
The watchdog’s acting regional director Catherine Bates says its investigation is ongoing in parallel with a GMP investigation into whether criminal offences were committed by members of the public.
August 15:
GMP says a “comprehensive file of evidence” has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice as part of an investigation into a series of alleged criminal offences.
September 5:
The family meet with the IOPC to discuss progress on its investigation.
September 6:
A spokesman for the police watchdog says it will investigate whether someone employed by the force shared footage.
October 7:
MPs from Reform UK write to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, pledging to launch a private prosecution against those involved if charges are not brought by the CPS.
November 18:
The CPS says it is still “considering material” and working with police and the IOPC while inquiries continue.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says the party will make a legal application.
December 20:
It is announced that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, has been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, has been charged with one count of causing actual bodily harm.
No police officers will be charged, the CPS says.
July 7, 2025:
Unseen footage is released by the CPS showing Ammaz attacking the officers.
It also emerges Amaaz had earlier headbutted a passenger in a Starbucks at the airport.
July 30, 2025:
Amaaz is found guilty of assaulting PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook, as well as attacking the Starbucks customer.
Jurors failed to reach a verdict on whether he and his brother assaulted PC Zachary Marsden occasioning actual bodily harm.
May 13, 2026:
Both brothers are cleared of assaulting PC Marsden following a retrial.
June 26, 2026:
Amaaz is jailed for attacking the two female cops.
Amaaz entered the cafe and headbutted the dad before punching him a number of times.
Protests were held across Rochdale and Manchester after the footage emerged in July 2024.
The brothers later said they were threatened by an officer and thrown to the ground.
Their claims saw Greater Manchester Police plunged into crisis as video showed PC Marsden allegedly kicking Amaaz.
Two of the officers were probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and faced criminal charges following the brawl.
The brothers initially hired TikTok solicitor Akhmed Yakoob to represent them but he quit when new footage was released revealing the cops had been attacked.
Amaaz kept up his narrative of being the victim during the trial – claiming he acted in self-defence and did not realise his “attackers” were female.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson QPM said: “This incident began after a man was headbutted in a public place in front of his family. Our officers were responding quickly to precisely the sort of outrageous criminal behaviour that rightly offends the public. In undertaking their duties, officers were met with resistance and violence; followed by online vilification, condemnation and adverse commentary from those who did not have the full facts.
“It is vital that officers get the respect and support they deserve for routinely putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. Assaults on police officers are sadly all too common – 35 of my officers are assaulted every week across GM – and such incidents can never be justified.
“I am particularly grateful to those many members of the public who have contacted the force in order to pass on their best wishes to the officers affected.
“Whilst the criminal trial is now concluded, we are cognisant of the ongoing IOPC investigation into the conduct of our officers. We will continue to cooperate fully with this investigation, and we look forward to its conclusion in due course.”
