Police seek man over racist and homophobic train assault on two women
British Transport Police officers have put out an appeal after two women were assaulted and barraged with homophobic abuse on a train.
Officers are looking to speak with a man in connection with the incident, which took place at around 8.22pm on Saturday December 9 on a train from London Kings Cross to Peterborough.
The victims were on the train when a man started loudly saying racist and homophobic comments.
The women interjected and the man responded by assaulting one of them by pushing her on the shoulder and inappropriately touching the other. He then threatened them both.
The suspect alighted the train at Huntingdon.
Investigating officer PC Christopher Marshall said: “This was a sustained and frightening ordeal for the two women, who did nothing to incite such violence.
“We will not stand for hate crime of any kind and so if you have any information in relation to this offence, please contact us as soon as you can.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 with reference 590 of 9 December.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan recently called for a zero tolerance attitude to hate crime in London.
Speaking at the PinkNews Awards, he said: “Let me be clear, hate crime will not be tolerated anywhere in London. In London, you are free to be whoever you are happy, and safe.
“London is a warm, inclusive and welcoming place, and I’m grateful for all of your support over the last 16 months, not for me, but for all of us.
“London is open to all people regardless of race, gender and sexuality and open to love.”
Speaking to PinkNews, he added: “If you choose to live in one the most diverse cities in the world, you’ve got to accept people are different sexuality, different faiths, different ethnicities and different socioeconomic backgrounds.
“That, for me, is why we are the best city in the world – but we could be better.
“For me it’s a badge of shame – that in spite of the progress that we have made over the last 20, 30 years if you’re a Londoner who happens to be LGBT, you make yourself vulnerable to hate crime.”
