Man ‘tried to pull off young woman’s hijab’ on Matlock-Derby train

Police have issued images of a man wanted in connection with a hate crime on a Derbyshire train.
This man is wanted in connection with an assault on a train.This man is wanted in connection with an assault on a train.
This man is wanted in connection with an assault on a train.

British Transport Police have appealed for information about the depicted man, after a woman in a hijab was assaulted on a train between Matlock and Derby.

The incident happened at around 4.50pm on Saturday, July 4.

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PC Joseph Jenkins said: “A man onboard the service started shouting abuse at a young woman wearing a hijab.

“He grabbed the hijab, attempting to pull it off, while continuing to shout at the woman.”

The man was ejected from the train at Ambergate station by a member of staff, added the officer.

Transport police have spoken to witnesses and reviewed CCTV from the train, and have now issued two images of a man they want to speak to following the incident.

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PC Jenkins added: “The victim was extremely distressed by this shocking incident, as I’m sure was everyone else who witnessed it.

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“Nobody should have to put up with such behaviour, and we are working extremely hard to find the person responsible.

“I am confident the man in the images we are issuing today can help with our enquiries. He has a distinctive tattoo of a cross on the back of his neck.

“Do you know he is? Please let us know.”

Rob Greensmith, Crime Prevention Manager from East Midlands Trains, added: “We do not tolerate this kind of behaviour and are taking this incident very seriously.

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“Everybody has the right to travel on our trains without fear of discrimination and we will be working closely with British Transport Police on their appeal.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference MSUB/B7 of 24/07/2015. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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