Elham Asaad Buaras
A teenage girl was reportedly subjected to a racist and Islamophobic attack in broad daylight in Bolton town centre on December 28.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident after witnesses said a man hurled hot coffee at the 17-year-old and shouted a racial slur as she walked with her mother near the Market Place shopping centre.
Family members said the girl was left badly shaken by the assault and is now fearful of returning to her normal routines in the town.
Her uncle said the incident had underscored the vulnerability felt by many families and forced them to take extra precautions in everyday life.
“We’ve now had to make arrangements so that she doesn’t have to go through the town,” he said, adding that the attack “showed it can happen to others as well”.
Police described the morning assault, which occurred near Knowsley Street, as distressing and deeply upsetting for the victim and her family.
Witnesses reported that the suspect fled the scene on foot before officers arrived. CCTV footage from the area is now being reviewed as part of the investigation.
The teenager told police the attacker was a man believed to be in his mid-30s to early 40s. He is understood to have purchased coffee from the McDonald’s on Knowsley Street shortly before carrying out the assault.
Her uncle said a police officer attended the family home, and that he had also contacted Halliwell councillor Hanif Alli to raise concerns about the incident.
Cllr Alli said the attack had heightened his worries about Islamophobia and the wider tone of public debate around race and racism in the UK.
Members of Bolton’s Muslim community have since called for increased police patrols and stronger support measures, describing the incident as part of a wider pattern of hostility experienced by many residents.
Community leaders also urged anyone who has suffered hate-motivated abuse to report it to police or through specialist reporting services.
