Entrepreneur racially abused on London Elizabeth Line; investigation continues
A 47-year-old businesswoman says four youths shouted racist slurs on a train as fellow passengers did not intervene; police say the incident is under investigation.
London — A 47-year-old entrepreneur said she was racially abused by a group of four children on London's Elizabeth Line on Sept. 7, as fellow passengers sat by without intervening.
Sophia Choudry, travelling from Paddington to Maidenhead, said the youngsters shouted the P-word repeatedly, laughing as they did so. She told British Transport Police she phoned for help and was told to exit the train at Hayes and Harlington where officers would meet her. She pressed the passenger alarm to try to halt the group from leaving, but the train stopped briefly and then continued without anyone coming to check on her. When the train resumed, she said the others had already left; she got off at Hayes and Harlington and later reboarded toward Slough after no officers appeared, when her husband collected her.
The following morning, British Transport Police contacted Ms Choudry, and she later decided not to make a formal statement. She provided video footage after which the case was reopened and remains under investigation. Police say the suspects left the train at Hayes and Harlington, and the inquiry continues. Ms Choudry had initially declined to press charges, but later agreed to have the footage reviewed.
A BTP spokesperson said officers received a report around 8 p.m. on Sept. 7 that a woman had been racially abused by a group of children on an Elizabeth Line train. They were reported to have left the train at Hayes and Harlington. Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 567 of 7 September.
Transport for London said it is deeply sorry that the passenger experienced abuse on its network. TfL noted that hate-crime incidents on the Elizabeth Line increased by nearly 50 percent last year, and by 28 percent across the wider London transport network. It said it is urgently investigating the circumstances and will work with British Transport Police to address the incident.
Choudry described the episode as heartbreaking and said she felt 'utterly alone' at a moment when she was trying to get home. She recalled memories from childhood and said she hoped the case would raise awareness: 'All I want is to raise awareness. These words carry pain, history and trauma. If racism is excused, it doesn’t disappear; it is passed on to the next generation.' TfL emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse and asked witnesses to come forward to help with the investigation.