Women's group boss says she was bitten in racist Tube attack

Selma Taha says an off-duty police officer did not physically intervene to help her or her friends

The director of a women's organisation says she was bitten and had clumps of her hair ripped out by a woman during a racially motivated attack on the Tube.

Selma Taha, from Southall Black Sisters, says an altercation began when she and two friends were travelling on a Northern line train on Friday night.

She claimed an off-duty police officer sitting nearby did not immediately identify himself or intervene.

The British Transport Police said a woman had been arrested and bailed.

Warning: This article contains a graphic image

Ms Taha was travelling from Camden Town to King's Cross with her friends when the alleged attacker pushed her suitcase towards them.

When they asked her to move it, Ms Taha claims the woman responded "it's not my fault you're lesser than me".

As the dispute escalated, Ms Taha said, the woman used racist language towards the trio including calling them "slaves", saying she "doesn't like black women", and making monkey noises.

The row developed into a physical confrontation with Ms Taha's friend, she added.

"The woman then started taking out clumps of her real hair; it was everywhere," she said.

"Then she went for my hair. She bit me through my clothes. I could feel burning and was screaming 'she's biting me'.

"I thought she would actually come away with flesh in her mouth."

Selma Taha says she was bitten through her clothes

She said passengers spoke out, including a man who had been sitting near the alleged attacker who she claimed "shouted at my friend to take her hands off the woman".

Ms Taha alleged he did not identify himself as an off-duty detective constable until all the women got off at King's Cross station.

"I was livid, I was furious at him. I was screaming at him and swearing, saying: 'You let this happen... it's because of you I was attacked!'," she said.

When Ms Taha confronted the officer she said he told her he had "only heard a verbal escalation".

"I felt he validated her behaviour and made her emboldened. And it validated my experience of feeling worthless," she said of the officer's alleged behaviour.

Ms Taha was later given a tetanus shot and antibiotics due to a "rash" around the wounds.

'We demand action'

British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed it was called to a dispute on a Northern line train at 23:30 BST on 29 September.

"An off-duty officer from the Metropolitan Police intervened and separated the group before escorting passengers off at the next stop, King's Cross, and calling BTP for assistance," it said.

It added that a 30-year-old woman "who was being detained by the off-duty officer on the platform" was arrested due to reports she had been racially abusive and bitten one of the group.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and a racially aggravated public order offence, and was released on bail, it added.

Ms Taha approached London's Victim's Commissioner and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), and submitted a complaint about the officer to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards after not receiving an update on her case.

The Met said it was aware of an "alleged assault on a woman by another woman reported to British Transport Police, where an off-duty Met officer was present".

It said an inquiry was in progress, acknowledged a complaint had been made and said the matter had been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).

"The officer involved is being provided with welfare support during this process," it added.

MOPAC said it was in contact with Southall Black Sisters and the Met to ensure "appropriate support" for those involved.

Southall Black Sisters is a not-for-profit organisation working for "the needs of Black and minoritised women" with aims to "highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women".

The group said: "We demand that appropriate action be taken against the assailant and the police officer."

London's Victim's Commissioner Claire Waxman said she was in contact with the group and would meet them this week.

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