Muhammad Amaad accused of punching an officer six times and choking him during airport violence, says he acted in self-defense and has zero regrets

A man on trial for savagely attacking a police officer at Manchester Airport stunned a courtroom by declaring he would not change a thing about his actions—even after allegedly punching an officer six times and choking him during a dramatic airport scuffle.

Muhammad Amaad, 26, is accused of launching a ferocious assault on Pc Zachary Marsden as the officer tried to arrest Amaad’s younger brother, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at the Terminal Two car park pay station on 23 July last year.

Amaad, from Rochdale, is alleged to have used a “high level of violence” as he intervened in the arrest, which followed reports that Mr Amaaz had headbutted a member of the public inside a Starbucks café. When officers arrived to detain him, things escalated rapidly.

According to prosecutors, as Pc Marsden attempted to restrain Mr Amaaz, Amaad grabbed the officer’s right arm, then his throat, before driving him backwards onto a seating area. There, he allegedly punched the officer repeatedly—six times in total.

But under tough cross-examination, Amaad showed no sign of remorse. When asked if his behaviour was excessive or something he regretted, he calmly replied: “No.” He insisted he was acting in self-defence, claiming he feared for his and his brother’s safety.

“The prosecution’s case is that your use of force was offensive,” said junior counsel Adam Birkby. “It was not defensive. Do you agree or disagree?”

“I disagree,” Amaad replied flatly.

Mr Birkby pressed further: “And that level of force, in particular the six punches, was unreasonable?”

Again, Amaad stood firm: “No, I disagree.”

He went on to deny that any of his actions were unlawful, stating he only intervened because he believed Pc Marsden was choking his brother. He also claimed he only punched the officer after being struck first himself.

Amaad’s barrister, Chloe Gardner, asked him directly: “Did you believe you were under attack?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, his voice unwavering.

The court was told that Amaaz, too, faces several charges—including assaulting Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, as well as attacking emergency worker Pc Ellie Cook. He also stands accused of the original assault on Starbucks customer Abdulkareem Ismaeil, which allegedly sparked the police intervention.

Both brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

CCTV footage from the incident showed a chaotic scene inside the car park station, with uniformed officers attempting to restrain the pair as violence erupted. Dots and arrows labelled each participant in the footage, capturing what prosecutors say was a violent ambush on police.

Despite the disturbing nature of the footage and the injuries allegedly sustained by officers, Amaad remained steadfast. When asked if he’d do anything differently, he simply said: “No.”

Greater Manchester Police declined to comment during the ongoing trial but confirmed that three officers required medical attention following the incident.

The jury was reminded that Amaad is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His brother faces multiple charges, including assault on three officers and a member of the public.

The trial continues at Manchester Crown Court, where jurors are expected to hear further witness accounts and review additional CCTV evidence in the coming days.