A Muslim woman has spoken of the moment she was assaulted and spat at by a racist thug during a business trip to London.
Nahella Ashraf, 46, had been attending after a conference in Hammersmith on Friday, when she was approached and attacked by the stranger.
Police are now investigating the attack and the incident has prompted anti-racism campaigners to stage a protest in the capital.
Nahell, from Withington, who works as a researcher for a government department, told the M. E.N. she was taking a lunchbreak at a nearby fish and chip shop when she was accosted by a stranger.
The man grabbed her by the arm and tried to throw her out, telling her she ‘shouldn’t be here.’
One of her companions tried to push the man out the way along with a staff-worker, asking the man what his problem was.
Referring to her religion, he replied: “People like her, they kill.” As the staff member began escorting the man out, he spat in Nahella’s face.
He then left, and staff at the takeaway phoned the police. Horrified, Nahella said: “I was totally shocked, it all seemed to happen so quickly. I have never had this before. “It really shook me up. The staff were really nice, they said he had issues.
“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.”
Nahella, who is a member of anti-racist campaign group Stand Up To Racism contacted the local branch in London to tell them what happened to her.
The group organised a vigil on Wednesday, as a protest against the way she had been treated. She said: “It was really good, about 40 or 50 people went. 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.”
Nahella will also be speaking about the attack at a Stand Up to Racism event at Central Methodist Hall in Manchester on Saturday.
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.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them via 101 or @MetCC.
Information can also be reported anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org .
No arrests have been made and enquiries continue
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