A 17‑year‑old girl was reportedly subjected to a racist, Islamophobic attack on December 28 in broad daylight in Bolton town centre.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they are investigating the reported assault after witnesses said a man hurled hot coffee at the Muslim girl and called her a “P*ki b*tch” as she walked with her mother.
Family members say the teen was left badly shaken and fearful of returning to normal routines in the town.
Her uncle told The Bolton News the incident “showed it can happen to others as well” and now the family take precautions on everyday journeys.
“We’ve now had to make arrangements so that she doesn’t have to go through the town,” the uncle said.
Officials described the morning attack near Market Place shopping centre as distressing and deeply upsetting for the victim and her family.
Witnesses say the suspect fled the scene on foot before police arrived and CCTV is being reviewed to identify him.
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The girl said the attacker was a man, seemingly in his mid-30s to around 40.
He reportedly bought coffee at the Knowsley Street McDonald’s earlier that afternoon before carrying out the assault.
The teen’s uncle said a police officer came to speak with the family later on Sunday and that he had also informed Halliwell councillor Hanif Alli.
Cllr Alli added that the attack had increased his worries about Islamophobia and the state of public debate on race and racism in the UK.
Members of Bolton’s Muslim community called for increased patrols and support, saying the attack is “part of a wider pattern” of hostility felt by many people.
Community leaders also reminded residents that police and reporting services are available for anyone who has experienced hate‑motivated abuse.
Rising hate
The reported Bolton incident comes amid wider data showing hate crime in England and Wales is increasing for the first time in several years.
Latest Home Office figures show police recorded 115,990 hate crimes in the year ending March 2025, a 2 per cent increase on the previous year.
Race hate crimes remained the largest category, accounting for around 71 per cent of all offences.
Religiously motivated hate crimes rose to a record high of 7,164 offences – the highest annual total on record according to official data.
Within these figures, incidents targeted at Muslims increased sharply, with anti‑Muslim hate crimes among the largest proportions.
Home Office analysis shows hate crimes against Muslims rose nearly 19 per cent in the year to March 2025, part of a broader pattern of fear and hostility in some communities.
Community groups warned that these figures reflect real experiences of intimidation and abuse felt by many families.
Officials said there was a clear spike in some hate crimes following the Southport murders and related disorder in summer 2024, when tensions spilled into several towns and cities.
