Cops, harassers laugh after Muslim mother's 'headscarf’ was yanked off in London

Incident happened after 3 women asked the Muslim mother if she was hot in the headscarf and started beating her

LONDON: A 25-year-old Muslim mother in London was allegedly harassed by three women for “wearing a headscarf,” last week as she went to collect her children from school.

The alleged incident took place close to Al Khair, a private Islamic primary school in Croydon, south London.

Eyewitnesses said the three women asked if she was hot in the headscarf.

https://twitter.com/2ziza/status/606577991192150016

The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Evening Standard that the women then began punching and kicking her.

"They pulled my headscarf off and started punching and kicking me," she said. "They were being so racist and using derogatory terms."

The incident escalated to such an extent that police had to be called in at about 3pm and two women aged 35 and 18 were arrested on suspicion of common assault and racial offence.

The Scotland Yard said that the two women were taken to a police station before being bailed to return at a later date. Officers are still investigating the issue.

However, photos from the scene posted on to social media and eye witnesses disputed the official version, claiming instead that police officers who arrived at the scene began laughing at the victim rather than helping her and that it took another man to intervene.

My brother was the man who stepped in & saved her. A disgusting & scary attack in my hometown @BuzzFeedUK @broderick http://t.co/0GjYqpIyLn

— Saima Mohsin (@SaimaMohsin) June 12, 2015

https://twitter.com/MuslimAidan/status/606914732533141504

A Metropolitan police spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that it was aware of the photos. “The victim has made a formal complaint in relation to the Met’s response to the incident. This will be investigated fully.”

Evening Standard further quoted the spokesperson as saying that they will "take any offence seriously."

This article originally appeared on BuzzFeed