Latest news with #Pava
Cedar News
10-07-2025
- Cedar News
Police Officer Says She Was 'Absolutely Terrified' After Violent Assault at Manchester Airport
A police officer testified that she was 'absolutely terrified' after being punched in the face and knocked to the ground during an attempted arrest at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2. PC Lydia Ward, of Greater Manchester Police, told a jury at Liverpool Crown Court that she suffered a broken nose after being struck while trying to detain 20-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz on July 23, 2023. The arrest followed a report that Amaaz had allegedly headbutted a customer at a nearby Starbucks café. According to PC Ward, Amaaz resisted arrest, and his older brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, intervened, leading to what prosecutors described as a 'high level of violence' directed at the officers involved. 'It just went from nought to a hundred,' PC Ward said, recalling how Amaaz began resisting as she and two colleagues, PCs Zachary Marsden and Ellie Cook, tried to handcuff him. She described how the scene quickly turned chaotic, with both suspects allegedly attacking the officers. During the struggle, Ward said she was punched forcefully in the face. 'All I remember then is that he turned and he punched me straight in the face,' she said. 'Everything went black. I was just thinking he has done something to my nose, face area — I didn't know what had happened.' Ward, who joined the police in 2018, said she had never before experienced such violence. 'As I came round, all I could feel was blood pouring out of my nose,' she told the jury. 'I was terrified… I didn't know who was going to come up at me next.' She also recalled trying to radio for help, only to find the battery had been knocked loose by the punch. She said bystanders were filming and shouting, but no one offered assistance. The courtroom heard that a Taser was deployed during the altercation and that Ward later used Pava spray to hold off additional individuals approaching the scene. Amaaz is accused of assaulting three officers, including PC Ward and PC Marsden, as well as a Starbucks customer earlier that day. His brother Amaad is charged with assault causing actual bodily harm against PC Marsden. Both men, from Rochdale, deny all charges. The trial continues.
Metro
10-07-2025
- Metro
PC punched in Manchester Airport 'assault' says she was 'absolutely terrified'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A police officer who was punched in the face while trying to arrest two brothers at Manchester Airport has told jurors she was 'absolutely terrified' during the alleged attack. PC Lydia Ward said she had 'never experienced that level of violence' after her nose was broken during the incident involving Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, in Terminal 2 last July. She and two colleagues from Greater Manchester Police had approached Amaaz at a ticket machine after a report that a male fitting his description had headbutted a customer at the Starbucks in arrivals. Amaaz allegedly resisted, and his brother, Amaad, is then said to have intervened, with the court told they inflicted a 'high level of violence' on the officers. Adam Birkby, for the prosecution, earlier suggested Amaaz threw 10 punches, including one which floored PC Ward, and that Amaad aimed six punches at firearms officer PC Zachary Marsden. Amaaz is also said to have kicked PC Marsden and twice struck firearms officer PC Ellie Cook with his elbow. Giving evidence on Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court, PC Ward described trying to 'grab [Amaaz] off so he could stop kicking PC Marsden'. She said: 'All I remember then is that he turned and he punched me straight in the face. 'I can't really remember where it landed but I know where my injuries were. I remember falling on the floor and everything went black.' She told prosecutor Adam Birkby that the blow delivered was 'really forceful'. PC Ward, a former special constable with Lancashire Police who joined GMP in 2018, said: 'Never in my whole time in the police service had that level of violence been used on me before. It felt really hard. 'As I came round, all I could feel was blood pouring out of my nose. I was just thinking he has done something to my nose, face area, I didn't know what has happened.' Mr Birkby said: 'How did you feel when you came round?' PC Ward replied: 'I was terrified to be honest. I was absolutely terrified. I had never experienced that level of violence towards me in my life. 'I didn't know who was going to come up at me next. I was scared of going after this male again and being punched in the face again.' She said at one point she pressed her police radio emergency button to call for further assistance, but the impact of the punch had knocked the battery out. She told Mr Birkby that other people in the pay station area were 'shouting stuff' and 'filming on their mobile phones', adding: 'Nobody came to assist. I felt everyone in that room was against us. 'To be honest, I was terrified.' PC Ward, who described herself as 'petite' and weighing eight stone, said she deployed her Pava incapacitant spray against two men who approached Mr Amaaz when he was on the floor after a Taser had been discharged on him. She said: 'They just kept coming forward, trying to impede. I was telling them to go back and they were not listening.' Rosemary Fernandes, representing Amaaz, put it to PC Ward that her client was 'taken by surprise' at the ticket machine and was 'shocked'. She said: 'It is important you identify yourselves as police officers, isn't it?' PC Ward said: 'I don't think we had any time to do that. We didn't have any time for rational discussion with this male as it turned violently quickly.' Ms Fernandes said: 'I put it to you that the defendant believed he was being attacked from behind and it all happened extremely fast. 'It is the defence's case that he punched you in lawful self-defence on the basis that you were an assailant. Do you have any comment on that?' PC Ward said: 'I don't know how he felt I was an assailant. He turned towards me and punched me in the face. 'He could see I was a police officer, and he could see I was a female as well.' Footage from a body worn video camera of a female police colleague was played to the jury which showed a bloodied and crying PC Ward being comforted in the aftermath of the incident. More Trending Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden and PC Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of 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. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Jeffrey Epstein's 'final text message' hours before suicide revealed by author MORE: Superyacht stewardess found dead with throat slashed in boat's engine room MORE: Dozens of cockfighting gamblers 'strangled to death and dumped in volcanic lake'
ITV News
09-07-2025
- ITV News
Police officer denies losing control after the alleged assault by brothers at Manchester Airport
A police officer has denied he "lost control" in the aftermath of being allegedly assaulted by two brothers at Manchester Airport. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to a reported assault at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals on July 23 last year, when Amaaz is said to have headbutted a customer. On Wednesday, jurors at Liverpool Crown Court were shown a photograph of injuries to the face of the defendants' mother, said to have been sustained as PC Zachary Marsden attempted to arrest Amaaz at the T2 car park paystation area. CCTV footage played to the jury showed Mrs Akhtar knelt near to her son on the floor after a Taser discharge felled him. Cross-examining PC Marsden, Imran Khan KC, defending Amaaz, said: "Did you cause the injury as a result of your conduct on July 23?" The Greater Manchester Police firearms officer said: "I believe it is unclear whether or not it was my actions that caused those injuries. "I believe I was not the only person who made contact with Mrs Akhtar." Mr Khan said: "I am suggesting that it was you who caused that injury by hitting her with a Taser?" PC Marsden said: "I firmly believe that you can't wholly attribute my actions to those injuries." The officer said he believed Amaad had struck his own mother during the disturbance. Mr Khan said: "Did you push the Taser you were holding into Mrs Akhtar at the time she was tending to Mr Amaaz?" Pc Marsden said: "I did, yes." Mr Khan said: "Did you think that was justified?" PC Marsden said: "In the circumstances, yes, I did. She grabbed my left leg. Using my left hand, I have taken hold of her grip to remove it. She clamped on to my left hand pulling me forward. "I was being pulled over Mr Amaaz and at risk of falling on top of him and being vulnerable." Mr Khan said: "I am going to suggest to you that was unnecessary. This was a hard push by your Taser on Mrs Akhtar's face? "PC Marsden said: 'I disagree." Mr Khan said: "She was concerned for Mr Amaaz. She was not a threat. She was not interfering with anything you were doing and this was conduct, I suggest, where you have lost control." Pc Marsden said: "I would deny that." Mobile phone footage was also played to the jury of PC Marsden later using Pava incapacitant spray on a bystander who he said was effectively "shielding" another man who officers wanted to detain for obstructing their duties. PC Marsden told the court he deployed the tactic because events were "beyond verbal reasoning". The officer was then seen to grab the man around the neck and pull him to the floor, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan said: "How do you justify putting your hands around a man's neck?" PC Marsden said: "Immediately prior, I had been subjected to the most violent assault of my life. "I was now terrified that we are on the tipping point of another volatile situation. They were complicit in watching us being violently assaulted. "I used pre-emptive force. I was in pain, exhausted and wanted to try the best I could to effect an arrest." Mr Khan said: "Was he doing anything that required Pava spray in the face?" PC Marsden said: "My fear was that he would be combative and we would end up with another hostile fight that I didn't want to happen." Cross-examining PC Marsden, Chloe Gardner, defending Amaad, said: "I suggest that you and your colleagues were the aggressors." PC Marsden said: "I can only account for my actions. I deny what you allege." Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie 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.
Metro
09-07-2025
- Metro
Officer's Taser push on mother's face justified
A police officer at the centre of a violent clash at Manchester Airport has claimed that bruises found on the mother of one of the suspects were partly inflicted by her son- not just by police. PC Zachary Marsden admitted pushing his Taser in her face as she leant over Muhammad Amaad's prone body but denied 'losing control' in the alleged assault on July 23 last year. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to a reported assault at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals, when Mr Amaaz is said to have headbutted a customer. On Wednesday, jurors at Liverpool Crown Court were shown a photograph of injuries to the face of the defendants' mother, said to have been sustained as PC Zachary Marsden attempted to arrest Mr Amaaz at the T2 car park paystation area. CCTV footage played to the jury showed Mrs Akhtar knelt near to her son on the floor after a Taser discharge felled him. Cross-examining PC Marsden, Imran Khan KC, defending Mr Amaaz, said: 'Did you cause the injury as a result of your conduct on July 23?' The Greater Manchester Police firearms officer said: 'I believe it is unclear whether or not it was my actions that caused those injuries. I believe I was not the only person who made contact with Mrs Akhtar.' Mr Khan said: 'I am suggesting that it was you who caused that injury by hitting her with a Taser?' PC Marsden said: 'I firmly believe that you can't wholly attribute my actions to those injuries.' The officer said he believed Mr Amaad had struck his own mother during the disturbance. Mr Khan said: 'Did you push the Taser you were holding into Mrs Akhtar at the time she was tending to Mr Amaaz?' PC Marsden said: 'I did, yes.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you think that was justified?' PC Marsden said: 'In the circumstances, yes, I did. 'She grabbed my left leg. Using my left hand, I have taken hold of her grip to remove it. She clamped on to my left hand pulling me forward. 'I was being pulled over Mr Amaaz and at risk of falling on top of him and being vulnerable.' Mr Khan said: 'I am going to suggest to you that was unnecessary. This was a hard push by your Taser on Mrs Akhtar's face?' PC Marsden said: 'I disagree.' Mr Khan said: 'She was concerned for Mr Amaaz. She was not a threat. She was not interfering with anything you were doing and this was conduct, I suggest, where you have lost control.' PC Marsden said: 'I would deny that.' Mobile phone footage was also played to the jury of PC Marsden later using Pava incapacitant spray on a bystander who he said was effectively 'shielding' another man who officers wanted to detain for obstructing their duties. PC Marsden told the court he deployed the tactic because events were 'beyond verbal reasoning'. The officer was then seen to grab the man around the neck and pull him to the floor, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan said: 'How do you justify putting your hands around a man's neck?' PC Marsden said: 'Immediately prior, I had been subjected to the most violent assault of my life. 'I was now terrified that we are on the tipping point of another volatile situation. They were complicit in watching us being violently assaulted. 'I used pre-emptive force. I was in pain, exhausted and wanted to try the best I could to effect an arrest.' Mr Khan said: 'Was he doing anything that required Pava spray in the face?' PC Marsden said: 'My fear was that he would be combative and we would end up with another hostile fight that I didn't want to happen.' Cross-examining PC Marsden, Chloe Gardner, defending Mr Amaad, said: 'I suggest that you and your colleagues were the aggressors.' PC Marsden said: 'I can only account for my actions. I deny what you allege.' He also denied her suggestions that he failed to exercise any self-control and did not act with integrity. PC Marsden 'strongly disagreed' with another suggestion that he had not been honest with the jury. Mr Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden and PC Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of PC Ellie Cook and the earlier Starbucks assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil. Mr Amaad is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations. The trial continues. MORE: Five Manchester United stewards removed from work at club over alleged assault MORE: Ex-Asda manager jailed after smuggling 30kg of cannabis into Manchester Airport MORE: EasyJet flight to Turkey diverted back to UK airport after 'passenger issue'
Leader Live
09-07-2025
- Leader Live
Police officer denies he ‘lost control' in aftermath of alleged airport assault
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to a reported assault at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals on July 23 last year, when Amaaz is said to have headbutted a customer. On Wednesday, jurors at Liverpool Crown Court were shown a photograph of injuries to the face of the defendants' mother, said to have been sustained as Pc Zachary Marsden attempted to arrest Amaaz at the T2 car park paystation area. CCTV footage played to the jury showed Mrs Akhtar knelt near to her son on the floor after a Taser discharge felled him. Cross-examining Pc Marsden, Imran Khan KC, defending Amaaz, said: 'Did you cause the injury as a result of your conduct on July 23?' The Greater Manchester Police firearms officer said: 'I believe it is unclear whether or not it was my actions that caused those injuries. I believe I was not the only person who made contact with Mrs Akhtar.' Mr Khan said: 'I am suggesting that it was you who caused that injury by hitting her with a Taser?' Pc Marsden said: 'I firmly believe that you can't wholly attribute my actions to those injuries.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you push the Taser you were holding into Mrs Akhtar at the time she was tending to Mr Amaaz?' Pc Marsden said: 'I did, yes.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you think that was justified?' Pc Marsden said: 'In the circumstances, yes, I did. 'She grabbed my left leg. Using my left hand, I have taken hold of her grip to remove it. She clamped on to my left hand pulling me forward. 'I was being pulled over Mr Amaaz and at risk of falling on top of him and being vulnerable.' Mr Khan said: 'I am going to suggest to you that was unnecessary. This was a hard push by your Taser on Mrs Akhtar's face?' Pc Marsden said: 'I disagree.' Mr Khan said: 'She was concerned for Mr Amaaz. She was not a threat. She was not interfering with anything you were doing and this was conduct, I suggest, where you have lost control.' Pc Marsden said: 'I would deny that.' Mobile phone footage was also played to the jury of Pc Marsden later using Pava incapacitant spray on a bystander who he said was effectively 'shielding' another man who officers wanted to detain for obstructing their duties. Pc Marsden told the court he deployed the tactic because events were 'beyond verbal reasoning'. The officer was then seen to grab the man around the neck and pull him to the floor, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan said: 'How do you justify putting your hands around a man's neck?' Pc Marsden said: 'Immediately prior, I had been subjected to the most violent assault of my life. 'I was now terrified that we are on the tipping point of another volatile situation. They were complicit in watching us being violently assaulted. 'I used pre-emptive force. I was in pain, exhausted and wanted to try the best I could to effect an arrest.' Mr Khan said: 'Was he doing anything that required Pava spray in the face?' Pc Marsden said: 'My fear was that he would be combative and we would end up with another hostile fight that I didn't want to happen.' Cross-examining Pc Marsden, Chloe Gardner, defending Amaad, said: 'I suggest that you and your colleagues were the aggressors.' Pc Marsden said: 'I can only account for my actions. I deny what you allege.' He also denied her suggestions that he failed to exercise any self-control and did not act with integrity. Pc Marsden 'strongly disagreed' with another suggestion that he had not been honest with the jury. Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie 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.
