A woman who witnessed a hate filled verbal attack on a mother on a Brighton bus yesterday afternoon has urged other passengers to come forward to police.
The witness, who has asked not to be named, was travelling on the 23 bus along Eastern Road towards the city centre when a man started shouting abuse at the mother, telling her she was a “f****** foreigner” and to go back home.
And then, to her horror, another woman joined in the barage. She said: “A Spanish looking woman with two children politely asked a guy who opened a window not to open it too much because of her children (it’s cold!).
“He shouted the most offensive words at her in the most vulnerable situation, with two small kids (F****** foreigner, I’ll do whatever I f****** want, go back’) and then the woman sat right beside me joined in with the foreigner abuse.
“I’m still shaking and now terrified of buses. And people.”
Sussex Police confirmed it had received a report from the witness, and said it was keen to hear from the victim of what is being treated as a racially-aggravated hate crime, as well as other witnesses.
A spokesman said: “The incident is reported to have happened on a number 23 bus on Wednesday (March 9) between 3.10 and 3.20pm. The woman politely asked a man not to open a window and was then subjected to a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse. He was joined by a woman, both calling the woman ‘a foreigner’.
“The victim has not come forward and there is no description of the man, but the woman who joined in the abuse is described as white, 50-65, overweight, coloured grey hair dyed orange with a skin tag near her right eye. She was wearing a black or dark blue puffa jacket.
“Police are keen to hear from the victim of the abuse, which is being treated as a racially-aggravated hate crime, or anyone else who witnessed the incident. Please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 1028 of 09/03.”
Martin Harris, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said: “We take any incident of hate-crime very seriously and at the moment we are investigating this event.
“We would urge any passenger who experiences an incident whilst travelling on one of our buses to notify the driver as soon as possible. Our driver can immediately radio our control room and the assistance of the police or our supervisors will be provided when it is needed.
“We will work closely with the police on this example of hate-crime, and will provide our CCTV recordings to assist in identifying those involved. We will also support the police in any action they take as a result.”
