Police investigate alleged racial abuse of Green deputy leader

The Metropolitan Police are investigating reports a man racially abused Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali and told him he should be "deported".

Leeds councillor Ali said on social media he was wearing Islamic clothing on his way through Earl's Court Station in West Lodon, on Wednesday, when a "racist thug" threatened to "smash my head in".

The 43-year-old said he went to police after a friend urged him to speak out, adding this is "too much of a regular experience for Muslims in Britain".

The Met Police said it had launched an investigation into "allegations of racial abuse" and was reviewing footage from Ali and station CCTV. No arrests have been made.

The police are encouraging "anyone with information" to come forward.

In a post on social media, Ali said: "Outside Earl's Court station, I was subjected to an Islamophobic hate crime.

"A man walked towards me shouting: 'I know you. I've seen all about you online. You should be deported'."

Ali said the man then used a racial slur, while "shouting that he's "white" and I should be deported".

"He came right up in my face. I was shocked. When I pulled out my phone to record, he backed off - threatening to "smash my head in." as he walked away," Ali added.

"This was not random. His words echoed the racist abuse I see online every day. British men are being radicalised by extremists, politicians, parts of the media and oligarchs," he wrote.

He later told BBC News he had been encouraged by a friend to talk publicly about the incident because he feared too many Muslims and other minority groups were scared of entering politics for fear of the abuse they would receive.

Ali, who represents the Gipton and Harehills ward on Leeds City Council, was elected Green Party deputy leader in September to serve under Zack Polanski.

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