Police officer feared for her life after being punched unconscious at Manchester Airport pay station

A female police officer broke down in court as she recalled the terrifying moment she was punched in the face and knocked unconscious during a violent brawl at Manchester Airport.

PC Lydia Ward, of Greater Manchester Police, told a jury she was “absolutely terrified” when a suspect floored her with a “really forceful” blow while resisting arrest. The incident unfolded near the Terminal 2 car park pay station on 23 July 2023.

Ward suffered a broken nose after the punch, which she said left her dazed and bleeding as onlookers stood by, filming the attack but offering no help.

“I remember falling on the floor and everything went black,” she said. “As I came round, all I could feel was blood pouring out of my nose. I was terrified. I had never experienced that level of violence towards me in my life.”

The court heard that PC Ward and two colleagues approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at a ticket machine after reports that someone matching his description had headbutted a man at a nearby Starbucks in Terminal 2 arrivals.

When officers tried to arrest him, the situation escalated rapidly. Ward attempted to restrain Amaaz by getting his arm behind his back, but claims he kicked out at PC Zachary Marsden and then turned and punched her.

“All I remember then is that he turned and he punched me straight in the face,” she testified.

As she fell, Ward said the impact was so severe it knocked the battery out of her emergency radio, rendering her unable to call for help. “Nobody came to assist. I felt everyone in that room was against us,” she told the court.

Bodycam footage played to the jury showed Ward in tears, blood streaming from her face as a colleague tried to comfort her.

The Amaaz brothers, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and his 26-year-old brother Muhammad Amaad, both from Rochdale, deny all charges of assault.

Prosecutors claim the pair unleashed a “high level of violence” on officers during the confrontation. Mr Amaaz faces charges of assault causing actual bodily harm against both PC Ward and PC Marsden, as well as separate charges for allegedly attacking PC Cook and a civilian, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at Starbucks.

His brother, Mr Amaad, is accused of assaulting PC Marsden and also causing actual bodily harm.

Defence barrister Rosemary Fernandes, representing Mr Amaaz, argued that her client acted in self-defence, claiming he was “taken by surprise” and thought he was being attacked.

“You didn’t identify yourselves as police officers, did you?” Fernandes asked Ward.

“We didn’t have time,” Ward replied. “It turned violently quickly. I don’t know how he felt I was an assailant. He turned towards me and punched me in the face. He could see I was a police officer and he could see I was a female as well.”

The trial continues at Liverpool Crown Court.