Police Speak to Man Involved in 'Hate Crime' Incident
While woman says she shared footage to show the abuse faced by Muslims
Hammersmith and Fulham detectives who were investigating footage of a woman being verbally abused by a man say they have identified a man in relation to the incident, which happened on Saturday, April 2, at a shop on Uxbridge Road, near Shepherd's Bush market.
Yesterday, Thursday, April 7, detectives interviewed a 39 year-old man under caution. They say he has not been arrested and enquires continue.
Police have also talked to the alleged victim, saying that on the evening of Monday, April 4, detectives from the Community Safety Unit spoke to the victim - a 24-year-old woman - who has alleged that she was verbally abused by a man.
Officers met with the victim again on Tuesday, 5 April, and have offered her ongoing support and advice.
The investigation was launched after Ahlam Saed, 25, who is of Somali origin, filmed the man, who had two small children with him, shouting at her inside the Shepherd's Bush shop.
His insults included calling her "batman" because she was wearing a traditional Niqab and asking if because she was a man or woman.
She said she shared the footage to show the abuse some Muslims are subjected to.
She told the Daily Mail: "At first I was angry with what he was saying but I decided to filter it out and show him that I did speak English and that I am educated.
"But all I got was effing and blinding, so it was was useless trying to have a conversation.
"It's upsetting that people like me, who were minding their own business, have to go through this sort of thing."
Police ask anyone with information that may assist this investigation, or who was in the store when the footage was taken, to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
April 8, 2016
