Muslim woman wearing headscarf ‘spat on and abused by racist thug’ in London chip shop
Nahella Ashraf, who was wearing a hijab, expressed her shock after she claims she was racially abused in the capital city
A MUSLIM woman wearing a hijab claims she was assaulted and spat at by a racist thug in London.
Nahella Ashraf, 46, from Manchester, was attending a business conference in the capital city when she was allegedly approached and attacked by a stranger.
Police are now investigating the alleged assault which happened in Hammermith on Friday.
Nahella, a researcher for a government department, , she was on her lunch break at a nearby fish and chip shop with colleagues when she was approached by a stranger.
She claims the man grabbed her by the arm and tried to throw her out telling her she "shouldn't be here".
While one of her companions and a staff member tried to push the man out of the way asking him what his problem was, the man apparently replied: "People like her, they kill."
As the man was escorted out, he allegedly spat in Nahella's face.
Horrified Nahella said: "I’m really surprised this has happened in London, especially in Hammersmith where it’s so multicultural.
"It just goes to show how serious this situation is. I needed to say something.”
The incident prompted Stand Up To Racism anti-racism campaigners to stage a protest in the capital against the way she had been treated.
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Nashella, who is a member of the anti-racist group, said: "I have been campaigning for a while on the issue, but this is the first time I have been a victim of Islamophobic abuse myself. It is so shocking, but makes you aware of what people go through.”
A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called to an address in King Street, Hammersmith, at 9.30pm on Friday, January 6, to reports that a woman had been assaulted by an unknown man.
“The suspect approached the victim, who was aged in her 40s and wearing a hijab, making Islamophobic comments. He then assaulted her by spitting at her face.
“Officers attended but the suspect had already fled the scene, in the direction of Hammersmith Tube Station.
“The victim did not require medical treatment. The assault is being treated by police as racially motivated hate crime.”
The suspect is described as a male of Arab appearance, aged in his 30s, about 5ft9ins, with facial hair and a non-British accent. He was wearing a green hooded jacket.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information can contact police via 101 or report anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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