A police officer has been "removed from operational duties" after a video showed a man being kicked in the head during an incident at an airport.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has also referred itself to the watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after the footage emerged. The force say it captures a "truly shocking event" which they "understand creates alarm."

The clip was recorded at Manchester Airport and shows an armed cop brutally kick and stamp on a man. Police say a female officer was left with a broken nose and that the other officers were taken to hospital following the disorder. Four men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray and assault of emergency service workers while one male officer, Greater Manchester Police, has been "removed from operational duties".

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "We know that a film of an incident at Manchester Airport that is circulating widely shows an event that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about. The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm."

Brutal footage of an armed officer kicking and stamping on a man's head emerged (
Image:
@4m4r_k/X)

The force initially said its Professional Standards Directorate was assessing the footage, reports Manchester Evening News. In the video, a male officer can be seen aiming a taser at a man as he is lying on the ground. Onlookers can then be heard shouting before the officer then kicks and stamps on the man's head.

Asst Chief Cons Chaudhry continued: "In advance of what is shown in the footage available, we were called to reports of an assault at Terminal 2, Manchester Airport at 8.25pm on Tuesday 23 July. The alleged suspect was seen on CCTV at a ticket machine in the car park and officers attended the location to arrest him.

"During our response, three officers were assaulted. One female officer suffered a broken nose and the other officers were forced to the ground and suffered injuries which required hospital treatment.

"One male officer has been removed from operational duties and we are making a voluntary referral of our policing response to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

"Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police. Two other men have also been arrested on suspicion of affray and assault of an emergency worker."

After the clip emerged on social media, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme Afzal Khan urged GMP to "provide meaningful reassurances to the community & refer themselves to the IOPC as a matter of urgency."