Protesters have been urged NOT to attend the demonstration at Manchester Airport in a GMP video

Greater Manchester MPs have urged demonstrators not to take part in a protest at Manchester Airport following viral footage of the arrest.

Protests took place in Rochdale and Manchester city center earlier this week after footage emerged of a Greater Manchester Police officer kicking and punching a man in the head as he lay on the floor. According to reports on social media, another protest was planned to take place outside Manchester Airport today (Saturday).

A poster for the planned protest was shared on social media and seen by Manchester Evening News. Yasmin Qureshi, Labor MP for Bolton South and Walkden, said there was “no need” for the protest to take place.

READ THE FOLLOWING: ‘Deeply regrettable’: GMP chief constable talks about Manchester Airport arrest video

She said this was due to “swift action” by GMP and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in light of the incident. Yesterday, the IOPC revealed that the officer is being investigated for assault.

The watchdog stressed that this does not necessarily mean criminal charges will follow. The officer was also given a disciplinary notice to inform him that he is being investigated for potential serious misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including the use of force, a spokesman said.

Ms Qureshi shared a statement from the Greater Manchester Council of Mosques (GMCoM) on X last night. She said: “Please follow this advice from the Greater Manchester Council of Mosques.

“Police have suspended the officer involved and a criminal investigation is ongoing. In light of this swift action, there is no need for a protest.”

The GMCoM statement said: “Many of you may have seen the call for protest tomorrow, Saturday 27 July at Manchester Airport. We are the Council of Mosques of Greater Mancehster, we urge our community not to attend this event.

“The origins of this protest are unclear and we are concerned about the potential negative repercussions that could cause further hostility and Islamophobia.” The statement added: “Let’s not disrupt the travel plans of others.”

Paul Waugh, Labor and Co-operation MP for Rochdale, also shared a statement on X this morning. He said he had “checked with the family involved in the incident”, who had “issued a plea for calm and asked them to stop protesting”.

“They want due process to take its course and urge everyone to respect their wishes,” Waugh said. Akhmed Yakoob, the lawyer representing the family, also posted on X urging people not to attend the protest.

The post reiterated that the family involved in the incident “strongly appeals for calm”. On Wednesday evening, crowds gathered outside Rochdale Police Station in protest, and videos on Thursday evening showed a handful of demonstrators throwing eggs at the building.

Roads and tram lines were blocked in Manchester city center during a Stand Up To Racism demonstration which began outside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s office on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mr Burnham said he had met around 40 community partners in Rochdale.

He said: “What people here don’t want – and I heard it very clearly in the room this morning – is politicians without the facts to exploit the situation for their own political agenda without regard to the effect on the ground in communities . in Greater Manchester.

“I want to close by repeating the call for calm, especially this coming weekend. Things are moving forward, the right steps are being taken and people’s voices are being heard.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest to proceed with things in a measured and peaceful way from here.”

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