A 21-year-old man named Mohammed Fahir Amaaz has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for assaulting two female police officers at Manchester Airport. He punched PC Lydia Ward, causing her to fall and break her nose, and also assaulted PC Ellie Cook by throwing punches, elbow strikes, and a kick during the incident on July 23, 2024.
Amaaz was also convicted of headbutting a man named Abdulkareem Ismaeil at a Starbucks inside Terminal 2. Sgt Ward, one of the officers attacked, expressed her fear and trauma in court, describing the impact of the assault on her physical and emotional well-being.
During the trial, Sgt Ward confronted Amaaz, questioning the cowardly nature of his attack on a female officer. She highlighted the lasting effects of the assault on her, including physical injuries and emotional trauma. Another officer, PC Cook, shared how her life had been changed forever by the attack, leading her to leave her job as a firearms officer due to the trauma she experienced.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC detailed the violent nature of Amaaz’s actions, emphasizing the severity of the assault on PC Cook and the potential escalation of violence if not for her use of a Taser. The incident, witnessed by children, left a lasting impact on all those involved, including Mr. Ismaeli’s distressed family.
In his defense, Amaaz’s lawyer highlighted his client’s background as a caring individual from a family with police officers. The defense argued that Amaaz’s actions were in response to what he perceived as a threat to his mother, emphasizing his lack of prior criminal history. Despite the defense’s arguments, Amaaz was found guilty of multiple charges related to the assaults on the officers and Mr. Ismaeil.
The case drew attention for its impact on the victims and the broader implications of violence against law enforcement officers. The Independent Office for Police Conduct continues to investigate the officers’ conduct during the incident.
