TikTok lawyer dramatically QUITS representing family of man kicked by cop at Manchester airport as new vid revealed
Yakoob said in his shock announcement this evening that he doesn't condone 'violence from police officers or civilians'
THE TikTok lawyer helping a man who was kicked by a cop at Manchester Airport has dropped the case after new video surfaced showing a violent assault on police.
Akhmed Yakoob was representing brothers Mohammed Fahir Khan, 19, and Amaad, 25, after footage of a police officer stamping on Fahir’s head went viral online.
A second video emerged on Saturday evening giving more context to the moments leading up to Fahir’s violent arrest.
It shows the same officers from the clip being punched with one put into an aggressive chokehold.
Brothers Amaad and Fahir appeared to be featured in the clip, fighting with police.
A man thought to be Amaad wearing a dark grey top repeatedly punches a male police officer as he falls back in a chair and has to pull out his taser to get away.
Meanwhile, a man dressed in blue believed to be Fahir, hits a female cop in the face several times until she falls to the ground.
It comes as Fahir’s family said they are concerned for any injured officers after the new footage emerged showing the lead up to the officer’s stamp.
A source representing the family involved also said: “If anyone broke the law they should face due process.”
Yakoob released a video on Instagram on Sunday night saying: “After consulting with the family I have decided for now to step aside and I have recommended the family to a lawyer”.
He claimed widespread attention surrounding the case was “unfair on the Greater Manchester Police and the family”.
Yakoob added: “I will be keeping a close eye on this.
“I would like to say that I am not for violence whether it’s from police officers or it’s from civilians, always remember that.”
It comes as other airport cops are refusing to carry weapons on duty in protest.
A source close to the firearms unit said: “There is real anger at the way this has been handled and they didn’t feel they could safely carry their weapons after the officer was suspended.”
They said that at the point the officer stamps on Fahir’s head, he was “disoriented” from being punched in the face, and had feared his gun had been taken.
Over the weekend, Greater Manchester Police declined to say why the brothers, from Rochdale, had not been charged in light of the evidence.
It is understood that due to the publicity around the case and the police appeal for witnesses, any potential charges may take longer than usual.
The officers involved were armed and reacted forcefully amid fears their weapons could be taken, the force previously said.
‘Social media lawyer’ Yakoob is understood to have been contacted by the family after the video of Fahir went viral last week.
He also revealed on Thursday Fahir has a cyst on his brain with symptoms “worsening overnight”.
The shocking clip, filmed at Manchester airport on Tuesday 23 and shared on Wednesday, captured a male cop stamping on his head.
It quickly went viral and sparked outrage without any context of the moments leading up to the teen’s violent arrest.
Several nights of protest in Rochdale followed, with at least 100 people swarming outside the local police station in on Thursday night.
Yakoob’s shock announcement comes only hours after he made a statement today saying “nothing can justify” the actions shown in the video.
He said: “After reviewing the CCTV footage from Manchester Airport, nothing can justify a kick to the head to a defenceless man and a stomp to the head.
“Those are my views. These officers are highly trained, they shouldn’t be losing control or seeing red.”
GMP said one of the two female police officers at the scene that day suffered a broken nose during a violent assault.
There are fears the officers in question, who have been subjected to intense backlash online, may have to go into hiding according to one police source.
The force said on Wednesday evening that people are “rightly extremely concerned” over the clip and that a male officer involved had been removed from duty.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has urged cool heads to prevail and slammed those who rushed to “unequivocal judgement” after watching the footage this week.
Full 'blow by blow' account of row
Tuesday, July 23
A police source told the that Fahir Muhammed Amas, 19 – the man who was kicked in the face – and his brother Amaad, 25, had travelled to the airport to meet their mum.
She had travelled from Pakistan via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight – where ‘words were exchanged’ between her and a male passenger while onboard.
The flight landed at 7.20pm, and the argument continued into the baggage hall of Terminal 2.
The male passenger then allegedly pushed his trolley into Fahir and Amaad’s mum, according to the Mail’s source.
Then at 8.22pm, the woman met her sons and told them about the incident on the flight.
A “violent altercation” is then said to have erupted at a Starbucks coffee shop at the terminal.
Around six minutes later at 8.28pm, a male officer and two female cops intercepted the family at the car park ticket machines.
Disturbing scenes then unfolded as Fahir can be seen in new footage resisting police after they approached him.
In the clip, Fahir then appears to land a blow to a female officer’s face, breaking her nose.
He goes on to knock down a second woman cop in sickening scenes.
Brother Amaad then looks to be throwing “full-blooded” punches at a male armed officer as he slumps back into a chair.
Fahir seemingly joins Amaad, punching the same bobby before grabbing him by the neck in a “chokehold”.
The teenager’s grip was only released when one of the female officers tasered him.
A source claimed the male officer suffered a suspected broken jaw.
Wednesday, July 24
The original video, which sparked major uproar and mass protests in Manchester, was shared on social media and showed a male cop stamping on Fahir’s head as he lies on the floor.
A woman in a headscarf kneels next to him as the cop stands above them, holding a taser.
Manchester cops confirmed that two men were arrested on suspicion of “assault, assault of emergency worker, affray, and obstructing police”.
Protesters gathered outside Rochdale Police Station late in the evening.
TikTok lawyer Akhmed Yakoob posted a video to X with brothers Fahir and Amaad Khan, confirming he was representing the family in the case.
Thursday, July 25
GMP confirmed it had referred itself to police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The IOPC received two referrals – one for the use of force and the other regarding the same officer reportedly using his PAVA, which is similar to pepper spray.
The force confirmed the cop had been suspended and has since said he is under criminal investigation.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham previously told BBC Radio 4 the situation is “not clear cut” after outbursts followed the video online.
Fahir has a cyst on his brain with symptoms “worsening overnight”, his family lawyer revealed.
Saturday, July 26
Further footage was released showing the brothers allegedly assaulting officers during the incident.
Police said in response they are “investigating and appealing for witnesses in relation to three incidents that occurred on the evening of Tuesday 23rd July 2024 in Manchester Airport Terminal 2”.
Yakoob confirmed he had dropped the case.
