‘Not an option' to walk away from Manchester Airport suspect, court told
The officers entered the paystation area of the Terminal 2 car park on July 23 following reports that a male fitting Amaaz's description had headbutted a member of the public in a Starbucks cafe at T2 arrivals.
Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, Pc Cook said: 'It was very clear what we were going to do.
'We had a violent individual in an international airport who needed to be arrested.
'My intention was to remove him from the paystation area due to the intelligence that he had used violence against a member of the public.
'I didn't want to give him a chance of using violence against myself or my colleagues or any other members of the public.
'When I approached him I saw Pc Marsden take hold of his left arm so I took hold of his right arm together with Pc Ward.'
She said Amaaz 'tensed up' and she felt resistance from him as she tried to put his arm behind the small of his back.
Pc Cook said: 'I then recall another male coming over and putting his arm over my shoulder.
'It seemed to me that he was trying to push Pc Marsden off and push him away from the male in blue (Amaaz).
'I turned my head slightly and saw Mr Amaad try to punch Pc Marsden.
'I then saw Pc Marsden try to deliver a strike to Mr Amaad to try to get him off.'It looked like he missed.
'I then saw Mr Amaad come back at Pc Marsden.
'He tried to grab hold of him. At that time I delivered a strike to the face of Mr Amaad.
'I used my right fist.
'As I delivered the strike I felt a kick to my right leg.
'Shortly after I felt a punch to the right side of my head.
'My immediate reaction was to turn my face from where I thought that punch had come from.
'I saw Mr Amaaz punch me again in the same part of my head which then knocked off my police cap.'
She said it was 'quite obvious' from their uniform that they were police officers.
Asked by prosecutor Paul Greaney KC to describe the impact of the second blow, Pc Cook said: ' I have never felt a punch like it.
'It made me stumble slightly and made my vision go quite blurry for about a second.
'When my vision came back I turned to face the threat where I thought Mr Amaaz was and I saw him deliver a single punch to Pc Ward which knocked her to the floor.'
Mr Greaney said: 'What did you think by this stage you were dealing with?'
Pc Cook said: 'I didn't know what we dealing with. I just knew we were in a hostile situation.
'We were in a bad place and I didn't know what was going to happen next.
'The male in blue then turned back to face me and I ran back towards him to arrest him, to detain him.
'I approached him and I was then struck another couple of times.
'I don't recall how many.
'They connected with my head and my torso I think.
'They knocked me to the floor.
'I then knew that myself just using physical restraint was not going to be able to detain him.'
Mr Greaney said: 'An option would have been to just walk away, wouldn't it?'
Pc Cook replied: 'That was not an option to walk away from such a violent individual at that point.
'I joined the police to protect members of the public and if I walked away I would not have been doing my job.
'When I was knocked to the floor I turned to look towards Pc Marsden and saw the male in blue had jumped on his back and punched his head.
'At that point I didn't see where Pc Marsden's firearm was.
'There was a risk of it being taken from him. At this point we didn't know what the intentions of the two males were and what they were capable of.
'I didn't know why they were attacking us, whether it was to get weapons off us or whether it was just an attack.'
As she got back to her feet she said she realised she knew she was not as strong as the male in blue and did not want to get too close to him so she chose to deploy her Taser.
Pc Cook pulled the trigger and delivered an 'effective shot' at Mr Amaaz who fell backwards holding on to Pc Marsden, the court heard.
Footage of what followed as Amaaz lay on the floor later emerged on social media and went viral.
Mr Greaney said: 'The world knows that Pc Marsden delivered a kick to the face of Mr Amaaz, did you see that?'
Pc Cook said: 'I did.'
Mr Greaney said: ' At the time did you form any view on that?'
Pc Cook said: 'I don't believe Pc Marsden was aware that the subject had been subjected to the Taser due to the loud environment and everything that was going on.'
She said she then put her hand on Pc Marsden's body armour and said to him words to the effect of 'he is on my Taser, I have got him'.
Pc Cook told the prosecutor she did not witness the 'stamping motion' from Pc Marsden which followed the kick.
The officer, who joined GMP in July 2018 and qualified as authorised firearms officer in May 2024, later attended hospital for treatment to swelling to the right side of her head and pain to her jaw.
Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm.
He is also accused of the assault of emergency worker Pc Cook and the earlier Starbucks assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil.
Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm.
Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations and claim they acted in lawful self defence.
Imran Khan KC, defending Amaaz, put it to Pc Cook that her colleague's kick to his client's head was 'quite a shocking thing to happen'.
Pc Cook said: 'I don't think it was.'
Mr Khan said: 'May I suggest it was quite a shocking view.'
Pc Cook said: 'On its own with no context maybe but not for me because I had been in the melee of what had just happened.'
Chloe Gardner, representing Amaad, asked Pc Cook: 'What was your reasoning for punching Mr Amaad directly to the jaw?'
Pc Cook said: 'Because he was obstructing officers in their duty and I had just seen him trying to grab Pc Marsden.'
Ms Gardner said: 'The only way to describe your force, PC Cook, is unlawful force isn't it?
Pc Cook said: 'I wouldn't agree with that.'
Ms Gardner said: 'It was completely unreasonable.'
Pc Cook said: 'If that's what you think.'
Ms Gardner said: 'And it was completely disproportionate.'
Pc Cook replied: 'I disagree.'
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6 hours ago
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How Constance Marten and Mark Gordon employed 'covert tactics' like an 'organised crime gang' to evade police for 53 days
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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Police clampdown on Palestine Action sees more than 100 people arrested nationwide - as activists in London chant 'f*** your Jewish state'
The police clampdown on Palestine Action has seen more than 100 people arrested nationwide - as activists in London chanted 'f*** your Jewish state' in shocking scenes. Rallies were held in London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Truro today after the protest the campaign group outlawed as a terrorist organisation earlier this month. The network of protests, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, saw participants hold placards reading: 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.' Some 66 people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London's Parliament Square for this today, under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A group of counter-protesters in the square held up placards which said: 'There is no genocide but there are 50 hostages still captive [the number as of June].' One person was arrested at the counter-protest. The counter-protesters were met with shouts of 'f*** your Jewish state' and 'fascist' by some pro-Palestinian activists, The Telegraph reports. 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Zoe Garbett, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, which scrutinises the Mayor of London, said: 'The Labour Government is aiding and abetting this genocide in Gaza.' Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who led today's policing operation in London, has previously said officers were watching for chants similar to the 'death to the IDF' shouted by artist Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival last month. He said: 'At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter-protest has seen the most heated exchanges. 'Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area, and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point. 'Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality, they will intervene and take appropriate action.' He said those planning to take part in Defend Our Juries' protests 'will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested'. 'I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future', he said. Protesters in Manchester also gathered by a Gandhi statue, near Manchester Cathedral in the city centre this afternoon. Greater Manchester Police later said in a statement: 'We have arrested 16 people on suspicion of support of a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. 'They remain in custody for questioning at this time.' Meanwhile, of events in Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'Officers engaged with protesters on College Green, explaining that the recent proscription of the Palestine Action group by the Government made it a criminal offence to express support for it under the Terrorism Act 2000. 'Seventeen people were arrested under Section 13 of the act and several placards were seized. 'A further three people will be invited to attend a voluntary interview at a future date. 'We will always aim to enable peaceful protest, however where criminal offences are committed, including those related to proscribed groups, we will intervene.' Around 30 protesters were involved in the 'peaceful' companion demonstration in the city of Truro in Cornwall. Defend Our Juries said the arrested an 81-year-old former magistrate named Deborah Hinton. The protests come ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday in which Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori will ask for the green light to challenge the Home Secretary's decision to ban the group under anti-terror laws. Pictured: Protests in London today Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: 'A number of placards which were contrary to the law remained on display despite police advice. 'Eight people, two men and six women, were arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They remain in police custody.' A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'Just a few weeks ago, being arrested under the Terrorism Act was the stuff of nightmares. 'Now it's a badge of honour that people are wearing with pride - the mark of resistance to genocide and standing firm for our democratic freedoms.' Those taken away by police this weekend included charity workers, dentists and teachers. The capital has seen a staggering 127 arrests at similar demonstrations over the past three weeks. Defend Our Juries has said a total of 120 have been detained to date across the country. The protests come ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday in which Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori will ask for the green light to challenge the Home Secretary's decision to ban the group under anti-terror laws. The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20. 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When asked if they were worried about being arrested, the man, aged in his 60s, said: 'Yes but I'm more worried about genocide. 'I've never been in trouble before. I am standing against war crimes and war criminals.' A large police presence saw more than twenty officers circle the group and warned that they would be arrested unless they put away their signs and left the area. Police carried several demonstrators from the area to waiting police vans, with one 38-year-year old protester from Stroud saying she had attended the protest 'to defend our rights to protest' and highlight 'the corruption of the government'. The activist - who gave their name as Shel and said they worked as a full time non-violence trainer - said: 'We will not comply. We want the UK government to lift the ban on Palestine Action. This is not a terrorist organisation. 'The British state is complicit in making non violent direct action protesters terrorists. They are not. It's the people in government who are the terrorists.' She said she knew 'it was possible' that she would be arrested for her actions in London today. The protester also said that a mass rally in support of Palestine Action would be taking place on August 9, but the location was not disclosed. Another activist - a woman using a walking stick who refused to state her name to reporters - said being detained by the police was 'a small price to pay' as she was escorted by officers to a police van. Another activist, Abigail Maxwell, broke into tears when asked by police to put down a sign showing support for Palestine Action. The activist said: 'I am a Quaker. I'm here to say - stop the killing of children. I thought it was possible I could be arrested - but I am never able to predict the future.' As one man was carried away by police, he said: 'Freedom of speech is dead in this country, shame on the Metropolitan Police.' In Devon, eight people were arrested after protesters gathered to show support for Palestine Action near Truro Cathedral. Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement that around 30 protesters were involved in the 'peaceful' Defend Our Juries demonstration. The force went on: 'A number of placards which were contrary to the law remained on display despite police advice. 'Eight people, two men and six women, were arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They remain in police custody.' A small number of counter-protesters in central London held up placards which said 'there is no genocide but there are 50 hostages still captive'. Earlier on Saturday Metropolitan Police officers were deployed across the capital along the route of the march which crossed Westminster Bridge, along York Road, north across Waterloo Bridge and down to Whitehall via the Strand. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which is supporting the campaign to de-proscribe Palestine Action, said: 'These protests will see many more ordinary people across the country take a stand, who don't want to be handcuffed and detained in a police cell but refuse to stand by while our country collapses into an Orwellian nightmare where opponents of genocide are criminalised and silenced, and arrested just for holding a sign. 'Protest groups targeting property, not people, in order to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel 's war machine while it commits horrific atrocities - is obviously not terrorism. It aims to stop violence and terrorism being committed against the Palestinian people. 'How long until this unprecedented, authoritarian proscription is used against racial justice, climate, disability rights groups and trade unions, unless we resist the ban now, before it's too late?'. It comes after the Home Office earlier this month ruled to ban Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid. Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21. A woman had her bags and placards taken off her and was taken away by police officers following her arrest at the London demonstration on Saturday People held signs saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' while wearing traditional keffiyehs scarves - they were later arrested Two elderly women were arrested by police and escorted over to a waiting vehicle after having their placards taken off them A woman being picked up by police by her arms as she continued to protest in London in the rain on Saturday A woman using a walking stick refused to state her name to reporters and said being detained by the police was 'a small price to pay' as she was escorted by officers to a police van Police surround a woman sat on the floor who was protesting in London on Saturday A woman being arrested by a police officer while protesting in Parliament Square, central London on Saturday The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos. Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'Just a few weeks ago, being arrested under the Terrorism Act was the stuff of nightmares. Now it's a badge of honour that people are wearing with pride - the mark of resistance to genocide and standing firm for our democratic freedoms. 'This is a major cultural shift. For years, the Terrorism laws and the Prevent programme have been used to divide and rule communities, and to marginalise Muslim communities in particular. Thanks to Yvette Cooper's hubris, they are now helping to bring us together.' Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 - when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country. One of those protesting last week is former government lawyer Tim Crosland. He said: 'There are already 18 Palestine Actionists held in UK prisons without a trial, following lobbying by the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the leading supplier of the machinery of genocide. 'If we cannot speak freely about the genocide of Palestinians, if we cannot condemn those who enable it and praise those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.' Two week sago Reverend Sue Parfitt, 83, (pictured) was arrested for protesting in support of Palestine Action in Westminsterafter the Met said: 'The law doesn't have an age limit' Protesters gathered in central London on Saturday (pictured) for the third consecutive week to oppose the decision to ban the campaign group At least 41 people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police last week for supporting Palestine Action Pictured: A protester is arrested and carried away at Saturday's protests in London A protester is arrested and carried away at Saturday's demonstration in London Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. The latest arrests come after at least 42 protesters were detained by police officers last Saturday as activists gathered for a second week in a row beside a statue of Gandhi in London 's Parliament Square, holding placards reading: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Another 16 arrests were made in Manchester and 13 people were also held in Cardiff at other related demonstrations last Saturday. Those held were of mixed ages, from their 20s to 70s and many said they had jobs and had been arrested before. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The offences mainly related to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an officer said. Previously almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square also holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect. Two protestors sat in the back of a police van after being arrested for supporting Palestine Action after a ban against the organisation earlier this month Protestors - whose ages ranged from 20s to 70s- were led away from the square outside Parliament in handcuffs last Saturday Police officers arrest protesters around the statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square who were holding placards in support of Palestine Action, which has been banned under anti-terrorism laws Police in Manchester arrest a Palestine Action protestor wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh A supporter of banned organisation Palestine Action is dragged away by police officers in St Peter's Square, Manchester One of those arrested was an 83-year-old priest and the Met said: 'The law doesn't have an age limit'. Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation. They held signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Last week protestors said they didn't care what happened to them and vowed to keep on protesting. One protester, an architect called Steve, 59, said: 'I'm terrified. But some things in this world are bigger than fear of arrest. I will do whatever it takes to highlight this problem. 'They (the police) can do whatever they want. I don't care.' One woman, Kate, was holding a sign which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' She said: 'It's shocking. I'm terrified. But the greater risk is genocide. That's more important. I don't have a phone. I've never been arrested before. 'I can't work because I've been trouble before connected to these activities. 'I was in social care. I had a good job. Nobody will employ me now. They'll think I'm a terrorist after this as well.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
More than 100 Palestine Action protesters arrested across UK
More than 100 people protesting against the proscription of Palestine Action have been arrested at demonstrations across the UK. Demonstrations were held in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Truro on Saturday as part of a campaign co-ordinated by Defend Our Juries. Protesters wrote the message 'I oppose genocide I support Palestine Action' on placards before being surrounded by police officers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, London. Officers confiscated the placards and searched the bags of those arrested, with some protesters being carried away by police while others were led away in handcuffs. The Metropolitan Police said 55 people were arrested in Parliament Square under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. The force said a further nine people were arrested for supporting Palestine Action within a separate large-scale march to Whitehall on Saturday by the Palestine Coalition. It added that one person was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence at the march and another person was arrested for breaching Public Order Act conditions. Saturday's arrests bring the total number of people arrested since the ban on Palestine Action came into force to more than 200, with more than 72 arrested across the UK last weekend and 29 the week before. The Metropolitan Police said protesters arrested in London remain on bail. Greater Manchester Police said it arrested 16 people on Saturday on suspicion of support of a proscribed organisation, adding that they remained in custody for questioning. Avon and Somerset Police said 17 people were arrested during a protest in Bristol. The force said: 'Officers engaged with protesters on College Green, explaining that the recent proscription of the Palestine Action group by the Government made it a criminal offence to express support for it under the Terrorism Act 2000. 'Seventeen people were arrested under Section 13 of the Act and several placards were seized. 'A further three people will be invited to attend a voluntary interview at a future date. 'We will always aim to enable peaceful protest, however, where criminal offences are committed, including those related to proscribed groups, we will intervene.' Eight people were arrested near Truro Cathedral in Cornwall after protesters gathered to show support for Palestine Action. Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement that around 30 protesters were involved in the 'peaceful' Defend Our Juries demonstration. The force added: 'A number of placards which were contrary to the law remained on display despite police advice. 'Eight people, two men and six women, were arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They remain in police custody.' No arrests were reported in Edinburgh. A woman who was detained by police in Parliament Square said: 'We demand that Palestine Action is de-proscribed. 'Our Government is not only arming a genocide, they are using terrorism laws to silence people who speak out. 'Palestine Action are campaigning for peace. They are dismantling weapons factories.' As he was carried away by police, a protester in London said: 'Freedom of speech is dead in this country, shame on the Metropolitan Police.' A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'Just a few weeks ago, being arrested under the Terrorism Act was the stuff of nightmares. 'Now it's a badge of honour that people are wearing with pride – the mark of resistance to genocide and standing firm for our democratic freedoms.' A small number of counter-protesters in Parliament Square held up placards which said 'there is no genocide but there are 50 hostages still captive'. It comes ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday in which the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for the green light to challenge the Home Secretary's decision to ban the group under anti-terror laws. The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. The Metropolitan Police said 70 people were arrested at similar demonstrations in Parliament Square over the past two weekends. The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'.
