Police are searching for two women who punched a Muslim woman in the head and kicked her off a London bus while shouting Islamophobic abuse.
The Metropolitan Police have launched a new appeal for information on the Islamophobic attack in October, which they are treating as a hate crime.
The victim, a Muslim woman in her 40s, was travelling on the 63 bus near Elephant and Castle station when the abuse started.
Passengers described the woman breaking down into tears and being told to “shut the f*** up” as the attackers filmed her on their phones.
Commuter Antonia Bance, who witnessed the incident from a bus stop, said one of the woman shouted “this isn’t bloody Africa” during the tirade.
“All of a sudden the crowd around me gasped,” she told the Independent.
“As I looked up there was a woman in a pink hijab lying on the road next to the back doors of the bus.”
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She described a scuffle as commuters called the police and tried to hang on to the two women who were allegedly responsible, while taking photos of them before they walked away.
“(The victim) said they kicked her in the stomach off the bus backwards…she landed on the road on her back,” she said.
”Straight away people picked the lady up off the floor, they were giving her hugs and helping her with her shopping.“
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the “badly shaken” woman was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries caused by being punched in the head and kicked off the bus.
The force has released photos of two women they want to speak to over the assault, which happened at 8.10pm on 28 October, in London Road.
“The suspects were heard by the victim and witnesses shouting racist and Islamophobic abuse at the victim before and after the attack,” a spokesperson said.
“Both suspects are described as black females aged in their twenties.
“Police are keen to hear from anyone who recognises the women in the images released today.”
No arrests have been made and an investigation by the Roads and Transport Policing Command continues.
Officers asked for anyone with video footage or photos of the attack to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting reference 3031350/15, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
