Islamophobic attack at London’s Paddington station

The Ilford Recorder reports on an appeal for information by British Transport Police in connection with a suspected Islamophobic attack at Paddington station.

The paper reports that the male victim, 34, boarded a train to Newbury from Paddington station at 10.15pm on Sunday 1 May.

The victim was approached by two men and a woman who struck up a conversation with him.

The paper notes that one of the men in the group “became aggressive and started making anti-Muslim remarks to the victim.

The man then “punched the victim in the face before leaving the train at Southall.”

PC Rachel Parfitt said: “The victim was left bruised by this disgraceful attack and it is fortunate that he was not more seriously injured.

“This was a racially motivated assault which will have appalled anyone who witnessed it and we need anyone with information to come forward.

“Passengers have the right to expect they will be safe when they travel. We will do everything we can to find the person responsible for this assault.”

The local paper has published a CCTV image of a man sought by British Transport police in connection with the incident.

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference 178 of18/5/16. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.