A man has been arrested after a Muslim woman’s hijab was “ripped off” as she waited for her train on the platform of a north London tube train.
A friend of the victim tweeted an image of a man they claimed carried out the attack on a platform at the Turnpike Lane station on the Piccadilly line.
She claimed the man ripped off the hijab while they waited for a train at 10.45am on Saturday 30 March.
British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed that a 51-year-old man from Wembley was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault on Tuesday.
A BTP spokesperson said: “Officers investigating a hate crime on the Piccadilly Line at Turnpike Lane, have this morning, 2 April, made an arrest.
“The incident was reported to British Transport Police after an image appeared on social media over the course of the weekend.
“A 51-year-old man from Wembley was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault.
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“He has been taken to police custody as enquiries continue.”
The alleged victim pressed the emergency button on the underground station platform several times, but no-one came to assist her, according to the friend. .
She also said other passengers on the platform who witnessed the incident did nothing to intervene to stop it.
The director of customer service for London Underground, Brian Woodland, said: “This sounds like a dreadful incident. We never tolerate hostile and violent behaviour on our network.
“All of our customers have the right to travel without fear of verbal or physical abuse.
“We are doing everything we can to support the BTP’s investigation.”
