Man accused of assaulting officer at airport says he felt he and brother were 'under attack'

A man struck a firearms officer at Manchester Airport because he believed he and his brother were "under attack", he told a jury.

Muhammad Amaad, 26, and his brother Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, allegedly unlawfully used a "high level of violence" against police at the car park pay station area of Terminal 2 on 23 July 2024.

PC Zachary Marsden, 26, along with Greater Manchester Police colleagues PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook, approached Amaaz to arrest him following a report he had headbutted a customer at the Starbucks cafe in the arrivals hall.

The Crown says Amaaz resisted and his brother then intervened, with both men assaulting PC Marsden.

Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, Amaad said he saw the officers enter the pay station, but nothing was said by them as Amaaz was grabbed by the arms.

Amaad said PC Marsden then took hold of his brother around the head and neck area, and he said to the officers: "Easy, easy, easy... no, no."

He told the court: "I was trying to de-escalate the situation. I thought he was being choked."

His barrister, Chloe Gardner, asked: "Did you feel that Fahir was under attack?"

Amaad replied: "Yes. I didn't understand the need for the aggression."

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Ms Gardner said: "At that point did you think that Fahir was able to defend himself?"

Amaad responded: "No. I put my hand under PC Marsden's arm and then just remember a massive smash to my face. I was just dazed as to what happened.

Ms Gardner asked: "What did PC Marsden do immediately after?"

Amaad said: "I was still feeling hits. Bang, bang, bang."

Ms Gardner said: "Did you feel under attack?"

Amaad said: "Yes. It was happening so quickly.

"At that point I have to defend myself. It was not stopping. I was being pushed and pulled from all directions. I couldn't release myself and get away."

Amaad said he hit out at PC Marsden but then "backed off straightaway when the pushing and pulling stopped".

The court heard how PC Marsden then fired his taser at Amaad, who said he felt a "sharp pain" to his chest and his legs "going weak".

He recalled noticing PC Marsden was carrying a gun, adding: "I put my hands up. I didn't want to die. I didn't want to get shot."

Amaad told the jury he considered the force he used was "reasonable".

Last year, his brother was convicted by another jury of assaulting the two female police officers and the Starbucks customer, the court has heard.

PC Ward sustained a broken nose as she was floored by a punch from Amaaz, while PC Cook was knocked over a baggage trolly by another blow.

CCTV footage showed Amaaz being kicked to the face by PC Marsden after he was felled by a separate taser strike.

Amaad and Amaaz, both of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny assaulting PC Marsden causing actual bodily harm.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man accused of assaulting officer at airport says he felt he and brother were 'under attack'