07 April 2024 , 17:40
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Police have released an image of a woman they want to speak to following an alleged hate crime assault which saw a mother attacked in front of her young children.
The force believe the victim was racially abused after an attack in north London which left the mum with lacerations on her face. It happened at around 1.40pm on November 18 last year, when the victim - a woman in her 40s - and her three children left a shop on Stoke Newington High Street.
Police said a woman made an offensive gesture toward the parent, who asked her what she was doing before she unleashed what has been described as a possible Islamophobic attack. The woman then launched at the victim, hitting her in the face and grabbing her hijab. A CCTV image shows what appears to be a middle-aged woman with wrinkles and brown hair, MyLondon report.
The hate crime happened on November 18 last year on Stoke Newington High Street (Shutterstock)A Met Police statement read: "Detectives have released an image of a woman they would like to speak to in connection with a racially and religiously motivated assault. At around 13:40hrs on 18 November 2023, the victim, a woman in her 40s, and her three children left a shop on Stoke Newington High Street, N16 when a woman made an offensive gesture toward her. The victim asked the woman what she was doing and the woman began racially abusing her. The woman then attacked the victim, hitting her in the face and grabbing her hijab. The victim received lacerations to her face. Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime."
Detective Constable Harriet Ford, leading the investigation, has urged anyone with information to come forward. She said: "This was a terrifying incident for the victim, made all the worse as it was witnessed by her young children. I would ask the public to take a good look at this image and consider if you have any information about her identity.'
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Anyone who recognises the person in the image is asked to call 101 quoting CRIS 4632311/23. Information can also be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.