Mohammed Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, will appear in court in January Two men have been charged in connection with the shocking incident which unfolded at Manchester Airport earlier this year.
Mohammed Amaaz, 20, and Muhammed Amaad, 25, are being prosecuted for assaulting police officers who were responding to a dispute in Terminal 2.
Footage of the incident, which took place back on 23 July, showed how the pair became involved in a ‘violent’ clash with cops.
At the time, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) released a statement which said: “Officers were called to reports of an altercation between members of the public in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.
“Whilst attempting to arrest one of the suspects of the earlier altercation, three officers were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground.
“A female officer suffered a broken nose and all three were taken to hospital for treatment.”
The force said four men were arrested at the scene, while a police constable was subsequently placed under criminal investigation for assault.
Footage of the incident at Manchester Airport began circulating on social media (MEN Media)
In the months that have passed since the incident, GMP has been investigating the members of the public who were involved.
Dually, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been carrying out a probe into the actions of the officers who were present.
Today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced the outcome.
Amaaz has been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault.
Meanwhile Amaad is facing charges of causing actual bodily harm, the CPS said.
Charges are not being brought against any police officers.
Amaaz and Amaad will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on 16 January.
GMP’s Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, revealed that the suspension of an officer involved in the incident had also know been lifted.
In a statement, he said: “I welcome today’s decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge two men with assaults on our officers and a member of the public at Manchester Airport earlier this year.
“I also welcome their decision to take no further criminal action against serving officers. I appreciate that a full and thorough independent investigation has led to this outcome.
Mohammed Amaaz and Muhammed Amaad have now been charged (Getty Stock Image)
“Following this decision, I have lifted the suspension of the officer involved,” Waston continued.
“The IOPC’s misconduct investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate fully in this regard.
“Whilst co-operating fully with the IOPC in the discharge of their independent investigation into the conduct of our officers, GMP has offered support to our officers and will continue to do in the coming months.
“I know that these matters have understandably generated a great deal of debate, scrutiny and speculation.
“We now have specific charging decisions and the court proceedings must be allowed to progress without the prejudice or taint that can emerge as a result of misplaced commentary, speculation or the sharing of digital content.”
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said his team had reviewed masses of video footage, witness statements, expert reports and other material.
“Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers,” he said, as per the MEN.
“We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers. We examined potential offences of actual bodily harm, and common assault, and reviewed expert evidence in the form of an independent report from an expert in the use of police force, to inform this decision.
“We always ensure police training is also taken into account in the context of these decisions, and in this case the combination of evidence, and the expert opinion meant there was no realistic prospect of conviction.We acknowledge that in this case as in any other, the strength of feeling has been high.”Featured Image Credit: MEN Media
Topics: UK News, Crime, Travel
Olivia Burke
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Published 12:23 11 Dec 2024 GMT
Foreign Office warns little-known passport rule could see Brits stopped from boarding plane at the airport
The rule is clear as far as the government is concerned
Brits are being warned about a little-known passport rule that UK citizens need to be aware of more than ever since leaving the European Union.
Before Brexit, those with a UK passport could come and go across the EU and Schengen Area as part of the free movement rules that come with every country that has EU membership.
But leaving the EU changed everything for the UK, with Brits now subject to many of the same passport rules as the rest of the world when it comes to border access.
We have to queue up, get asked why we’re coming to an EU country, and get our passport stamped by border control.
And it is this process that has rediscovered a little-known rule that many more Brits will be experiencing as we head to European destinations such as Spain, France, Germany, and Italy.
Ultimately, if you fall foul of this, you could be ‘turned away’ from the country you’re heading to.
A stamped passport (Getty Stock Image)
Passport rule explained
The rule is all to do with the space left in your passport to issue stamps for entering and leaving a control.
They act as a formal way of identifying where you have been and for how long.
As a result, you must have a specific amount of space left to avoid the risk of being turned away from your flight, with at least two pages clear of any markings or stamps.
Greg Wilson, CEO and travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk, explained: “Filling up the pages in your passport may have felt like an unlikely task years ago, but since Brexit, many are finding their passport pages becoming fuller as new rules mean UK passport holders must have their passport stamped each time they enter and leave the EU.
“If you do run out of pages in your passport, you will have to renew your passport sooner than its expiry date, so make sure to keep a keen eye on the remaining empty pages. If you are buying a new passport, make sure to use trusted sources only.
“Don’t be tempted by websites offering express shipping or cheaper prices as you could be caught out and end up spending even more to get your hands on a compliant UK passport. Being turned away at the airport for a non-compliant passport would be devastating, which is why we are urging everyone heading off this Christmas to be aware of how the rules could affect them.
Make sure your passport is up to scratch (Peter Titmuss/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Foreign Office stance
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office recommends you have two blank pages for your passport when arriving in a new country.
It also says you need to make sure your passport’s ‘date of issue’ is less than 10 years before the date you land in your destination of choice.
If you renewed your passport before 1 October, 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.
John Heppenstall, the former Head of Consular Campaigns at the Foreign Office, said: “Passports are essential for travelling and it is important to take care of them. Although most holidaymakers do, a lot of consular time could be saved if more people treated their passport as something as valuable as their phone or wallet.
“We also see people travelling who are not aware that certain countries require a UK passport holder to have six months of validity left on their passport from the date of entry, and even up to two blank pages in your passport. We strongly advise people to look after their passport, keep it safe and check its validity well in advance of travel.”
“If you’re denied access to your flight for issues such as an invalid passport, your travel insurance is unlikely to protect you,” Wilson added.Featured Image Credit: Peter Titmuss/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Stock Image
Topics: Brexit, Holiday, Travel, UK News
Tom Earnshaw
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Updated 12:35 1 May 2024 GMT+1Published 16:12 30 Apr 2024 GMT+1
breaking
Two men charged after world famous Sycamore Gap tree was felled
There was national outcry when the Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall was felled last year
Two men have been charged after the world famous Sycamore Gap tree was felled.
Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, were charged with causing criminal damage to the famous Sycamore Gap tree and Hadrian’s Wall last September in Northumberland, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
There was absolute uproar last year when it was discovered the 200-year-old tree had been cut down.
The beloved Sycamore Gap stood in a dramatic dip on Hadrian’s Wall and had become a landmark itself.
The recognisable tree had been looked after by both the Northumberland National Park and the National Trust before tragically meeting its end after two centuries.
It even featured in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
The iconic Sycamore Gap tree. (Michael White/Northumberland National Park/Facebook)
Northumberland National Park soon raised alarm bells that the Sycamore Gap had been deliberately destroyed as an investigation into the incident was launched.
And today (30 April), after previous arrests and plenty of outrage, Graham and Carruthers have been charged.
Gary Fothergill, specialist prosecutor for CPS North East’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Northumbria Police to charge Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers with causing criminal damage after the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down last September.
“They have also been charged with causing criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall and will appear at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on 15 May 2024.”
When news of the tree being destroyed broke, author LJ Ross, who wrote a book called Sycamore Gap, described the incident as ‘terribly sad’.
The felled Sycamore Gap tree, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. (PA)
She said: “Terribly sad to hear of the loss of this iconic, beautiful tree, which was the setting for my second book and a source of peace and inspiration to many.
“If this was an act of vandalism, I can only think that the person responsible is deeply unwell. It’s madness.”
The MP for Hexham, Guy Opperman, was also devastated that a piece of history had been destroyed. He said everyone was ‘in shock’ and called it an ‘attack on one of the nation’s most famous trees’.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness wrote on X of the convictions: “The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree rocked our region. It was a crime felt by millions that loved that iconic spot. I still can’t walk that section of Hadrian’s Wall. I’m proud of @northumbriapol for the thorough investigation that has led to these charges being brought today.”
Other X users called the convictions ‘tremendous news’.Featured Image Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images / Michael White/Northumberland National Park/Facebook
Topics: UK News, Environment
Jess Battison
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Published 08:37 13 Dec 2024 GMT
Full list of areas in the UK targeted in ‘dodgy’ firestick crackdown as police knock on doors
A number of homes across the UK have been raided over the use of illegal streaming devices
‘Dodgy’ firestick users are being targeted as part of a crackdown across the country.
A number of homes throughout the UK have been raided by police forces and anti piracy body Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) over recent months.
The raids, which started in November, took place in 13 areas in Britain with the focus being on 30 suppliers who are currently selling the devices.
Why are dodgy firesticks illegal?
A number of homes across the UK have been raided over the use of illegal streaming devices (Getty Stock Images)
As many of us are already aware, it is illegal to stream paywalled content for free.
It’s not illegal to own a ‘dodgy’ firestick, but it is to sell them, or stream content off it.
Streaming services which charge a monthly fee to access its content, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ have fell victim to jailbroken firesticks.
And using one to watch Premier League football on Sky Sports and TNT is a big no-no and breaks copyright law.
A 42-year-old man has since been arrested in Newport on suspicion of selling firesticks, whilst others received cease-and-desist letters.
This comes after Jonathan Edge, 29, from Liverpool, received a three-year jail term last month for selling and using illegal firesticks.
What’s being done about it?
A crackdown on dodgy firestick users has begun (Getty Stock Images)
FACT has revealed that a two-week enforcement operation is currently underway.
“Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable,” CEO of FACT, Kieron Sharp, said.
“Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.
“If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.
“We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations. The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance.
“To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk. These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong.
“The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment.”
13 areas in the UK that have been targeted
It is illegal to sell jailbroken firesticks (Getty Stock Images)
Kent
Sussex
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Lincolnshire
Staffordshire
East and West Midlands
Greater Manchester
Cheshire
Merseyside
Northumbria
North Yorkshire
Amazon Fire Stick 4K – how much is it and what features does it have?
This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group will make a commission on anything purchased.
There are currently a handful of Amazon Fire Sticks on offer ahead of Christmas.
These include the Fire TV Stick 4k (currently £34.99 down from £59.99) which allows users to stream thousands of films and TV shows on Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+.
It also features Alexa Voice control and is compatible with devices like lights, thermostats and smart cameras.Featured Image Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images/Getty Stock Images
Topics: UK News, Crime, IPTV, Film, Amazon
Anish Vij
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Updated 21:01 1 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 20:59 1 Nov 2024 GMT
Lawyer explains disturbing reason police officers always touch the back of cars they pull over
One lawyer has offered some insight into why police officers always touch the back of the car
A lawyer has shed some light on why police officers always touch the back of vehicles when they pull over a car and it’s actually pretty dark.
Although many of us won’t have ever been pulled over by a police car while driving, you may have noticed on TV shows or in movies that when police officers stop a vehicle, they often touch the back of the car. But why?
Over on Reddit, some people have shared theories about why this might be.
Most police officers do this when a car has stopped (YouTube/Dirceu Valadares)
Meanwhile, clips of officers touching car boots when they’re pulled over have gone viral online.
One person wrote: “I was pulled over the other day for a bogus reason, (I won’t get into it) and as the police officer approached my car, she ran her finger from my rear spoiler all the down the side of my car. It made me cringe watching her, knowing that I had just polished my car after a nice wash.
“The next week I was getting gas and I saw an unfortunate soul have the pleasure of being pulled over as well. Once again, I saw a police officer touching the back with his pointer finger and proceed to drag it across the car!”
While the Redditor was left confused, one lawyer has offered some insight into why this happens and it actually makes so much sense.
Michael – aka the Atlanta Lawyer on YouTube – shared a short clip explaining what happens and why.
“Did you know the police touch the back of your car every time they pull you over?” he said.
It’s primarily for the officer’s safety. (YouTube/Dirceu Valadares)
“They do this to put their DNA and fingerprints on the back of your car. This helps to identify the car in case the officer is injured or the driver speeds off.”
Meanwhile, trooper Steve Montiero explained another reason during an interview with News 6.
“When law enforcement officers conduct a traffic stop, there are plenty of procedures that need to be done, not only for the safety of the violator, but for the safety of that officer,” he began.Play
“One of those things is proving that that officer was with that car, so when officers approach a vehicle, they touch the rear of it.”
Montiero continued: “The first reason is to make sure that the trunk is closed.
“It may sound a little crazy, but you want to make sure that no one is about to jump out of the trunk and that it’s properly secured.
“Touching the rear of the vehicle puts the officer’s fingerprints on that car, showing that he or she was there with it.
“In case the driver decided to flee the scene, or if something happened to that officer, it ties both the vehicle and the officer together.”