Metropolitan police 'racially profile and assault' al-Araby employee

Maha Rezeq said the two officers had abused her Somali driver, Ali Deeq, "in the most disgusting way" when they arrested him at 4.20am. The officer's body-worn cameras were reportedly switched off.

"Ali did not understand what was happening when they pulled him out of the car," Rezeq said.

"They were really violent with him – it was so uncalled for."

Ali Deeq has since been released without charge and a complaint has been made to the Metropolitan Police.

One officer, who called himself Rosa, allegedly threatened to beat Deeq on the ground after he had restrained him with handcuffs.

"When I was on the ground the officer kept on swearing at me and saying he was going to break my hand," he said.

"He kept abusing me and swearing at me – this was way beyond excessive force."

When asked later why he had acted violently, Rosa said Deeq had sworn at him on the ground, which counted as "aggression".

The incident occurred near the Olympia stadium, south west London, as Rezeq was travelling from her home to work at the Araby TV studio.

A police car drove in front of the vehicle, which belongs to al-Araby TV, and "dragged Deeq out of it."

"Ali was so angry and scared because he was being abused in the most disgusting way," Rezeq said.

"His shirt was ripped and they were hurting him... he didn't do anything," she added.

He was then arrested on suspicion of stealing the car he was driving, after the officers said it had been identified as stolen.

This story reportedly changed shortly afterwards however, after the officers were made aware that Rezeq was a reporter. According to her notes, the officers later said they were looking for a known car thief in the area who shared Deeq's name.

"The police officer called Rosa was bullying Deeq... he hated anyone talking back at him," Rezeq said.

"It was very clear they were discriminating against him because he is a black guy."

Deeq said he felt his arrest "was for a race reason".

The Metropolitan police told The New Arab they would be taking "no disciplinary action at this time in relation to the officers involved".

"On Wednesday, 1 November at 04:22hrs officers on patrol stopped a car in Addison Bridge, W14 that had activated the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system," a spokesperson for the Met Police said.

"Information on the system linked the registration plate of the car to a burglary.

"After it was established that no offences had been committed, both were allowed to go with no further action.

"A complaint about the actions of the officers involved has subsequently been received and will be passed to the Directorate of Professional Standards.

"The officers involved were equipped with body worn video cameras and this footage will form part of the investigation into the complaint."

Deeq said he used to have great respect for the Metropolitan Police, but "not any more".

"This was not normal... that's not how it should be," he said.