The shocking incident unfolded in July 2024 at Terminal Two, where police were called to a disturbance involving a man who had earlier been accused of headbutting a passenger. When officers, including Sgt Lydia Ward (then a constable) and PC Ellie Cook, moved in to arrest 21-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, the situation rapidly escalated into violent chaos beside a car park payment area.

Court hearings were shown harrowing body-worn footage of what happened next. As officers attempted to restrain Amaaz, he lashed out with repeated punches, striking both female officers with significant force. Sgt Ward was knocked to the ground and suffered a broken nose after being hit directly in the face. PC Cook was also struck multiple times during the melee, later describing how she believed she was being attacked by several people due to the intensity of the blows.

Amaaz, a university dropout from Rochdale, was later convicted of causing actual bodily harm to Sgt Ward and assaulting PC Cook. He was also found guilty of assaulting a member of the public during the same incident. At sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt handed him a prison term of three-and-a-half years, describing the attack as completely unprovoked and stating that both officers had been carrying out their duties lawfully and posed no threat to him.

The court heard that Sgt Ward was left bloodied, in shock, and suffering both physical and psychological trauma. She later underwent surgery to repair her broken nose and told the court that she still lives with a visible scar and ongoing reminders of the attack. In a powerful victim statement, she directly addressed Amaaz, telling him he had changed her appearance and her life, and branding his actions as cowardly. She said she had been forced to attend court while breastfeeding and even brought her newborn baby to give evidence, describing it as an experience no mother should ever face.

Sgt Ward also criticised the defendant for what she described as a lack of remorse, saying he had attempted to portray himself as a victim after partial footage of the aftermath went viral online. She insisted that the public had only seen a distorted version of events until full CCTV evidence emerged showing the violence directed at officers in the moments before.

PC Ellie Cook, who also suffered injuries during the attack, later revealed she had been left deeply traumatised by the incident. She told the court her career ambitions as a firearms officer had been put on hold and that she now feels “broken” following what she believed was a routine call-out that turned into a terrifying confrontation. She described how she continued working in the immediate aftermath but later developed trauma-related symptoms that eventually forced her to step back from operational firearms duties.

The court also heard that Amaaz had been joined by his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, during the confrontation. As the arrest attempt unfolded, both men became involved in fighting with officers. While Amaaz was seen throwing punches at the two female officers, his brother was involved in separate struggles with other officers at the scene. However, despite earlier proceedings, juries failed to reach verdicts on whether either brother had assaulted a separate officer involved in the incident.

After a second trial collapsed without conclusion, prosecutors controversially decided not to pursue a third trial against either man in relation to those remaining allegations. That decision meant Amaad walked free, sparking criticism and claims of inconsistency in the handling of the case, with some members of the public and commentators questioning why further proceedings were abandoned despite lengthy jury deliberations.

The collapse of that part of the case came after complex legal arguments and delays linked to overlapping investigations by police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Prosecutors said the decision had been taken at the highest level and within legal boundaries, though it immediately fuelled backlash and debate about accountability and prosecutorial judgment.

The violence at the airport initially sparked widespread attention after partial footage circulated online, with early clips showing a police officer appearing to strike one of the suspects. This led to public protests and accusations of excessive force, with some commentators initially suggesting wrongdoing by officers. However, once fuller CCTV and body-worn footage was released, a more complete picture emerged showing the sustained and forceful attack on officers moments earlier, shifting public perception sharply.

During sentencing, the judge rejected arguments that Amaaz had acted in self-defence, stating that the officers were clearly identifiable and acting lawfully in attempting to detain him. He also dismissed claims that the defendant was unaware the victims were female police officers, saying the evidence showed he knew exactly who he was striking.

The court further heard emotional statements from PC Cook, who described how she now lives with flashbacks of the attack and had been forced to move home for safety reasons after her identity became public. She said the incident had destroyed her sense of security and forced her to abandon her dream of joining the Metropolitan Police as a close protection officer.

Amaaz showed no visible emotion as he was sentenced via video link from custody, where he had already been held on remand after being convicted. His defence barrister argued that he had acted in panic and in defence of his brother, and that the officers’ initial intervention was unlawful. That argument was rejected by the judge, who said the assault was entirely unjustified.

Greater Manchester Police later defended the actions of their officers, with senior leadership stating that frontline staff were responding to serious criminal behaviour and were met with violent resistance. The force also highlighted the growing issue of assaults on police officers, saying incidents of this nature are sadly becoming more common and can never be justified.

The case has left a lasting impact on all involved, particularly the two officers who were attacked while carrying out their duties. While one of the brothers has now been jailed, the decision to drop further prosecution against the other continues to divide opinion, with debate still ongoing over whether justice has been fully served in a case that has already ignited fierce public controversy.