Two men charged with police officer assault after Manchester Airport incident

• ITV Granada Reports journalist Andrew Fletcher take a look back at what took place

Two men have been charged with assaulting police following an incident at Manchester Airport - with no officers facing charges over their role in the incident.

Footage of fracas was shared online in July and prompted protests after it appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police officer assaulting a man as he lay on the floor.

The altercation, in the airport’s Terminal Two, allegedly happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight which arrived at 7.20pm on 23 July.

The CPS has now charged Mohammed Amaaz, 20, with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, a charge of assaulting an emergency worker and a charge of common assault.

Muhammed Amaad, 25, is charged with causing actual bodily harm.

The two defendants will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 16 January.

The CPS said in making its decision whether to charge any officers it had reviewed an independent report on the use of police force.

"We always ensure police training is also taken into account in the context of these decisions, and in this case the combination of evidence, and the expert opinion meant there was no realistic prospect of conviction," Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said.

He continued: “This was a high-profile incident that attracted significant public interest and media coverage at the time, and we have worked closely from the outset with investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Greater Manchester Police.

“We have reviewed all the available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports and other material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider."

Two men and their mother alleged they had been assaulted during the incident and police said three officers received injuries, including a broken nose.

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

Parallel investigations have been carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

GMP said it submitted a “comprehensive file” to the Crown Prosecution Service in August.

Following the decision Chief Constable Stephen Watson said the officer involved had had their suspension lifted.

“I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public at Manchester Airport earlier this year," he said.

“I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers. I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome.

“Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved. The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate fully in this regard.

“Whilst co-operating fully with the IOPC in the discharge of their independent investigation into the conduct of our officers, GMP has offered support to our officers and will continue to do in the coming months.

“I know that these matters have understandably generated a great deal of debate, scrutiny and speculation."

A spokesman for the IOPC said its inquiry was still open and it was yet to decide if disciplinary action should be taken against any GMP officers after "complaints were raised by six members of the public".

“We are aware of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to take no further action against police officers involved in a series of arrests at Manchester Airport on July 23," the watchdog said in a statement.

“Our independent investigation into the use of force by police on six people during the incident continues and is nearing completion.

“Throughout the investigation, during which two officers were interviewed under criminal caution in relation to alleged assaults during the incident on July 23, we shared relevant evidence with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), as it became available, to assist with making a swift decision in this case.

“On Monday, we shared the final such piece of evidence with the CPS to consider potential charges.

“We will now work to conclude the few remaining lines of inquiry as quickly as possible.

“At that point, we will decide whether anyone serving with GMP should face disciplinary proceedings, and we will reach a decision on a series of complaints raised by six members of the public in relation to the incident.

“It was important for events at Manchester Airport on July 23 to be carefully investigated.

“The IOPC and GMP investigations are separate, and with different remits, but between them ensure there is an appropriate level of scrutiny of these matters.”