The father of a Black student held at gunpoint by “institutionally racist” police feared his son could have been killed in the incident.
The force has been accused of racial profiling after two young Black men, who have asked not to be named, were rushed by armed officers in Toxeth, Liverpool, as the pair walked home from a mosque last Monday.
“I feel I could have lost my son,” he told The Independent. “I raise my son to contribute positively to society and to feel safe but now I don’t believe he is.
“I’m proud he complied with the police and acted calmly but you can imagine how frightened he is as a young lad, he’s never experienced these kinds of things before,” he added.
In the video, the shaken young men can be seen holding both hands up as the police guns remain pointed at them from close range.
More armed officers can be seen arriving on the scene in vehicles. In a subsequent clip one of the men can be seen being held in handcuffs as he is searched by armed officers who are telling him to “shut up.”
The pair were handcuffed minutes from their home following reports that someone was seen in the area carrying a handgun.
The community sought to intervene pleading the innocence of the two students, who police later released with no further action after no weapon was found on them.
His son is now so distressed by the situation he is urging his son to request emotional and mental health counselling. He added that the family were not contacted after the incident to explain what happened or offer any support.
“We have to learn something from this. It’s happened before, it’s happened now and it could happen again. If those two young people didn’t act calmy, what would the action of the police be? They could have been killed,” the fatheradded.
www.hiiraan.com
The force has been accused of racial profiling after two young Black men, who have asked not to be named, were rushed by armed officers in Toxeth, Liverpool, as the pair walked home from a mosque last Monday.
“I feel I could have lost my son,” he told The Independent. “I raise my son to contribute positively to society and to feel safe but now I don’t believe he is.
“I’m proud he complied with the police and acted calmly but you can imagine how frightened he is as a young lad, he’s never experienced these kinds of things before,” he added.
In the video, the shaken young men can be seen holding both hands up as the police guns remain pointed at them from close range.
More armed officers can be seen arriving on the scene in vehicles. In a subsequent clip one of the men can be seen being held in handcuffs as he is searched by armed officers who are telling him to “shut up.”
The pair were handcuffed minutes from their home following reports that someone was seen in the area carrying a handgun.
The community sought to intervene pleading the innocence of the two students, who police later released with no further action after no weapon was found on them.
His son is now so distressed by the situation he is urging his son to request emotional and mental health counselling. He added that the family were not contacted after the incident to explain what happened or offer any support.
“We have to learn something from this. It’s happened before, it’s happened now and it could happen again. If those two young people didn’t act calmy, what would the action of the police be? They could have been killed,” the fatheradded.
Father of innocent Black man held at gunpoint by ‘institutionally racist’ police fears he could have died
Exclusive: The family have made a formal complaint against Merseyside Police following the incident in Liverpool
