The story had sparked controversy and protests, and calls to blockade Manchester Airport
23:30, 04 Aug 2025Updated 23:45, 04 Aug 2025
The incident occurred in a car park pay station at Terminal 2 of Manchester Airport
A police officer is under criminal investigation following an allegation they leaked footage relating to a violent confrontation at Manchester Airport last summer.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct probe concerns a recording of CCTV showing an incident involving members of the public and several officers from Greater Manchester Police on July 23, 2024.
The scenes of violence began shortly after a flight landed at Terminal 2 from Qatar. Officers were initially called to a confrontation between members of the public.
In July 2024, the Manchester Evening News broke footage of the incident recorded on a mobile phone, appearing to show a police officer kicking an individual in the head.
The story sparked controversy and protests. There was unrest in Rochdale and there were calls to blockade Manchester Airport.
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In the city centre after the video went viral, protesters blocked tram lines and roads outside the offices of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Shortly afterwards, the M.E.N. obtained further footage, showing moments leading up to the incident in more detail – involving two men, a male police officer and two female officers.
We took the decision to publish this in an article on July 27, against the backdrop of civil unrest. It made national and international headlines.
Our role in publishing was part of our duty to keep readers informed by providing fair and balanced reporting.
The police watchdog investigation relates to this footage.
On August 23 and September 3, 2024, the M.E.N. received letters from the IOPC seeking access to this CCTV footage and asked questions designed to identify the source.
We denied these requests, with editor Sarah Lester commenting at the time: “The protection of sources of information is a key journalistic principle.”
Tonight (August 4), the IOPC has confirmed to the Manchester Evening News an officer is now under investigation for allegedly sharing footage relating to an active police investigation, and several other potential offences relating to the obtaining and disclosure of the video.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We can confirm a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer was recently informed they are being criminally investigated over an allegation they shared footage relating to an active police investigation into an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024 without any legitimate policing purpose.
“We began our independent investigation following a referral from the force in September 2024, after concerns were raised about the source of a video provided to the media.
“We will now investigate these allegations and obtain an account from the officer concerned in due course”.
Last month, a jury convicted student Mohammed Fahir Amaaz of assaulting a member of the public and two female police officers during the bust-up on July 23 last year.
Greater Manchester Police has been approached for comment. The force previously said it will fully cooperate with the IOPC investigation.