Man on train tells Muslim woman he might 'kill her' on way home
Listen: Man on train tells Muslim woman he might 'kill her' on way home
A Muslim woman who was racially abused by a man on a train and told she might be killed "while you're walking home" has said the experience left her feeling "really uncomfortable and intimidated".
Lila Tamea, 27, was on a train home to Warrington from Liverpool when the incident happened. British Transport Police is investigating it as a hate crime and has launched an appeal for information.
Tamea told Yahoo News UK a group of four men began talking to her on the train. They initially seemed friendly until she told them she was studying for a PhD and researching racism in education, which appeared to prompt a series of racist remarks.
"That's when one of the guys 'eye-rolled' and they began making a series of comments, including "kill all Muslims," she said.
Referencing the UK-wide riots during the summer, Tamea said: "Given the events that took place four weeks ago, I was really uncomfortable and intimidated."
Tamea proceeded to record audio and video clips of her exchanges with the group, including one in which she says the man in a blue and white checked shirt told her he might kill her “when you’re walking home”. The man then chuckled, she said.
In another, when they were discussing immigration, the man's voice can be heard saying: “We have to kill all the f****** Muslims, get rid of the f****** before they come over here”.
In another clip, he is heard saying: “I’m gonna get my Uzi machine gun and kill as many Muslims as I can. I won’t do you though, you’re a nice girl.”
In a further recording, the man is heard using the N word multiple times when talking about Notting Hill Carnival.
Recounting her experience, Tamea told Yahoo News she remained polite because of the adrenaline.
"It's like a survival thing, where we have to be extra amenable, extra nice, extra friendly, extra welcoming," she said, explaining that there were four men involved in the encounter - one of whom was sitting right next to her, meaning she was "wedged in".
Tamea described the man in the blue and white checked shirt as being the primary agitator.
She told Yahoo he described himself as being racist, but she thought he was joking initially until the racist comments began.
She added: "If they'd met Muslims, they'd realise that 99.9% of us are reasonable, nice people. Yet in their head, they think it's the other way around, that the majority are not nice."
When the ticket inspector came onto the train, Tamea said she told him the men were being racist and they were eventually asked to leave the train.
British Transport Police said: “We are aware of a video on social media which shows an incident of hate crime on a train at Liverpool South Parkway on Saturday, 7 September.
"We take all reports very seriously and are investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact us via text on 61016 reference 787 of 7 September or call 0800 405040. Or contact Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111."
