INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Man Arrested Over ‘Racist Attack’ On Pregnant Woman Who Lost Her Unborn Baby

By Lawrence Arboleda
Published on: 01:09 PST, Sep 14, 2016

A man has been arrested for kicking a pregnant woman in the stomach, causing her to lose her unborn baby. The attack was allegedly racially motivated, as reported by the Daily Mail.

CCTV footage was taken around 9:40 p.m. on August 6 has emerged showing a man hurling racial insults at a 34-year-old woman while shopping at a co-op store in Bletchley. Witnesses said that the confrontation happened following a queue-jumping incident inside the store.

The woman, who was reportedly wearing a headscarf at the time, ignored the insults and then headed out of the store. The suspect, however, followed her to her car, where he repeatedly kicked her until she collapsed to the ground.

While the suspect was repeatedly kicking and stamping on her, a 40-year-old man tried to interfere but was hit in the head with a bag of ice and a bottle by the suspect, resulting to head injuries.

The suspect fled the scene afterward.

The unnamed woman, who requested that her ethnicity be kept a secret, was taken to a hospital but was later informed by doctors that she had lost the baby.

A neighbor who saw the aftermath of the racist attack said that the victim was lying on her back and screaming in pain.

Marian Scott, 56, said she saw a group of people gathering around the woman.

“It was in the early evening. She was lying on the floor but screaming. A man was against the wall.

“Both were of ethnic origin. She was young and had dark clothing. She had a head scarf – not the full veil. She wasn’t heavily pregnant.

“There wasn’t a lot I could do, we were waiting for the ambulance. I do remember a policeman coming and saying it was a surface wound to the head (of the male victim).

“I left then. They were being looked after by people and a crowd was gathering.”

Visakan Nathan, 36, told the Times that he heard the woman screaming “help me, help me.”

“This guy was attacking the lady — he was very aggressive. He was kicking and pushing her.”

Both victims were later released from the hospital. They are now recovering from their injuries.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday for racially aggravated assault. The man remains in custody.

PC Richard Armitage spoke before reporters during a conference in connection with the racist attack.

“This morning a 37-year-old man from Milton Keynes was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and is currently in custody,” a statement said.

“This racially aggravated assault had absolutely devastating consequences for the victim, who lost her baby as a result of the attack,” he added. “Our thoughts are with her and her family at this incredibly difficult and sad time.”

“A thorough investigation is underway and we would like to speak to the man pictured as he may have information which could help with the investigation. If you recognize the man in the CCTV image or have any information about this incident please contact me via the Thames Valley Police inquiry center on 101.”

The racial attack took place just near the Hazrath Shahjalal Jamie Masjid mosque, a former pub previously attacked by British National Party activists back in 2011. That same year, a pig’s head was thrown on the roof to protest the mosque’s conversion.

The National Police Chiefs Council confirmed a steady rise in the number of hate crimes since the vote to leave the European Union occurred on June 23, as reported by the Independent.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, the council’s head on hate crime, said that they are treating hate crime as a “priority.” He also urged victims of hate crime to come forward.

[Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images]

Share this article: Man Arrested Over ‘Racist Attack’ On Pregnant Woman Who Lost Her Unborn Baby
More from Inquisitr