America, Manchester: A video from Wednesday afternoon showing a police officer using excessive force against a Muslim man on the ground has sparked outrage and criticism. The footage reveals the officer targeting the man with a taser, followed by brutal kicks and stamping on his head, despite pleas from onlookers and the man's family to stop the violence. The altercation, involving British Pakistanis, quickly escalated into a severe incident of police brutality.
In response to the video’s circulation, Greater Manchester Police have suspended the officer and referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation. The footage has ignited widespread condemnation on social media, with many demanding accountability for the officers' actions. Prominent figures, including politician George Galloway and boxer Amir Khan, have called for the involved officer's dismissal and criticized the incident as damaging to the UK's reputation.
Authorities have reported that four men were arrested in connection with the incident, and a female officer suffered a broken nose. Despite some online defenders, there are strong calls for the release of bodycam footage and potential charges against the officer, including attempted murder. The IOPC has committed to a thorough review of the incident, amid ongoing concerns about police conduct and treatment of minority communities in the UK.