Police in Solihull have released CCTV of a man suspected of forcibly removing a Muslim woman’s face covering.
Just after 2pm on 3rd March, the 26-year-old victim, who cannot be named, was in Touchwood shopping centre when the incident occurred.
She had just walked past the Disney store, when it is alleged the man captured on camera approached her from behind, took hold of her head and removed her face covering.
As her attacker walked away, he threw the material on the floor and left the shopping centre.
Although physically unharmed, the woman was left severely shaken by the incident.
Chief Inspector Kevin Doyle, from Solihull police station, said: “Reports of crimes like this are exceptionally rare both in Solihull and the wider West Midlands.
“We are treating this incident as a hate crime as we believe the woman was deliberately targeted because of her faith symbolised by her attire.”
