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A racist attack that went viral on X is being investigated as a hate crime.
A group of women were forced to defend themselves from the tirade as they walked along Romford Town Centre.
A white man in glasses approaches a group of women, some wearing hijabs and pulling shopping trolleys, in Romford, east London on Saturday afternoon.
He follows them down the busy shopping district in South Street loudly shouting and gesticulating at the group as they try to walk away.
In the viral clip, posted by Redbridge Community Action Group (RCAG), he swears and calls the group ‘Muslim traitors’.
One of the women begs him to stop harassing one of the victims, he hits back: “Firing Katyusha rockets into Israel you think that’s normal? We don’t want you here.
He then tells them to “F*** off back to England.” He then corrects himself: “F*** away from England”.
Vaseem Ahmed, 55, was at a Free Palestine demonstration outside Barclays bank in the high street.
He said as police arrived the group of activists split up with the women being confronted by the man as they walked home.
He told The Independent: “I’d say to him if you’re going to be brave do the same thing in front of some Muslim men then see what the outcome is.
“Don’t target innocent people it’s the worst kind of bullying. And grow up some of the stuff he was saying was really vile.
“He was so angry and so worked up he couldn’t get his words out properly, it wasn’t the most eloquent rant.”
He added: “I know those women from other demonstrations. I was shocked in the way it happened but then not shocked at the same time. Islamophobic attacks have sky-rocketed since October 7.
“A lot of Government ministers and even Rishi Sunak refuse to call out Islamophobia when it happens and people get emboldened.
“We are visibly Muslim, especially women they become easy targets, that’s the saddest thing.
“I didn’t see anyone intervene hey might have been concerned for their safety but all you have to do is shout a few times you don’t have to put yourself in danger. I don’t understand why people standby and let it happen.”
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman confirmed to The Independent the force was investigating the confrontation “as a hate crime”.
The force posted on X: “We are aware and urgently investigating this clearly unacceptable incident. We will be speaking to the victim later.”
Anyone with information please call 101, quoting CAD 5105/20APR24
Source: independent.co.uk
