Elham Asaad Buaras

Police are investigating after a group of women allegedly ripped off a Muslim mother’s hijab during an Islamophobic attack as she went to collect her children from school in Croydon.

The young mum was allegedly set upon by three women “for wearing a headscarf” as she walked towards private Islamic primary school Al-Khair in south London.

She was going to collect her two young children on June 4 when a number of women started “shouting and hurling abuse”.

They allegedly asked if she was hot in the headscarf – before yanking it off and punching her.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “They pulled my headscarf off and started punching and kicking me.

“One was dragging my head down while the others were hitting me. They were being so racist and using derogatory terms.”

She said she was left with whiplash and chunks of hair missing, but suffered no significant physical harm and the London Ambulance Service was not called.

The alleged attack in Derby Road, close to the school, only stopped when another parent jumped in, according to police.

Officers were called to the scene at about 3pm. Two women, aged 18 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of assault and a racially aggravated public order offence.

They were taken to a police station before being bailed to return at a later date. Officers continue to investigate, Scotland Yard said.

Quizzed by The Muslim News on why the women were arrested under racially aggravated offence and not religiously aggravated, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said, “This is the initial charge” adding it could be changed should they be charged later.