The Carriage

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By Liz JacksonBBC News

The director of a women's organisation says she was bitten and had clumps of her hair ripped out by A Woman during a racially-motivated attack on The Tube .

Selma Taha, from Southall Black Sisters, says an altercation began when she and Two Friends were travelling on a Northern Line train on Friday Night .

She claimed an off-duty Police Officer was sitting near the alleged attacker but did not immediately identify himself or physically intervene.

A Woman has been arrested and bailed.

Ms Taha said things escalated during The Journey from Camden Town station to King's Cross, in North London , after the alleged attacker pushed her suitcase towards the three friends and narrowly avoided hitting one of them.

When they asked her to move The Suitcase , Ms Taha claims The Woman responded that " it's not my fault you're lesser than me".

As The Incident escalated, Ms Taha said The Woman used derogatory racist language towards them including calling them " slaves" saying she " doesn't like black women" and making monkey noises at them.

The three victims verbally responded and The Situation developed into a physical confrontation, Ms Taha added.

She Said passengers tried to verbally intervene, including A Man who had been sitting near the alleged attacker who she says later introduced himself as an off-duty officer.

'Bit through my clothes'

" He shouted at My Friend to take her hands off The Woman , calm down and be quiet, but My Friend told him The Woman still had her hands in her hair, " she explained.

" The Woman then started taking out clumps of her real hair; it was everywhere. "

Ms Taha continued: " Then she went for my hair. She bit me through my clothes. I could feel burning and was screaming 'she's biting me'.

" I thought she would actually come away with flesh in her mouth. "

Ms Taha alleged the off-duty detective constable did not identify himself as a Metropolitan Police officer until all The Women got off The Carriage at King's Cross station.

" I was livid, I was furious at him. I was screaming at him and swearing, saying: 'You let this happen. . it's because of you I was attacked!'," She Said .

When Ms Taha confronted The Officer She Said he told her he had " only heard a verbal escalation" and she added when British Transport Police (BTP) officers arrived on scene she asked them why they were not arresting The Woman , but says the officers " complained at us shouting".

Ms Taha asked for an ambulance to be checked over but said this never arrived and she was treated by station staff instead.

Tetanus shot

She later attended hospital where she was given a tetanus shot and antibiotics due to a " rash" around The Wounds .

" I felt he validated her behaviour and made her emboldened. And it validated my experience of feeling worthless, " She Said of The Officer 's alleged behaviour.

BTP said: " Officers received a report around 23:30 BST on 29 September of an altercation on board a Northern Line underground train.

" An off-duty officer from the Metropolitan Police intervened and separated The Group before escorting passengers off at The Next stop, King's Cross, and calling BTP for assistance.

" BTP officers quickly attended and arrested a 30-year-old woman who was being detained by the off-duty officer on The Platform .

" It was reported she had been racially abusive and bitten one of The Group during the altercation. "

The Force said The Woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and a racially-aggravated Public Order offence, and was released on bail while inquiries continued " to establish the full circumstances of What Happened on board the train".

Ms Taha said after not receiving an update on the case she approached London's Victim's Commissioner and The Mayor 's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), and submitted a complaint about The Officer to The Met 's Directorate of Professional Standards.

'We demand action'

The Met Police released a statement saying: " We Are aware of an incident of alleged assault on A Woman by Another Woman reported to British Transport Police, where an off-duty Met officer was present.

" We Are making immediate enquiries to establish the exact circumstances.

" A complaint has been received by The Met 's Directorate of Professional Standards and we have made a referral to The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).

" The Officer involved is being provided with welfare support during this process. "

An IOPC spokesperson said it had " received a voluntary complaint referral today" from The Met Police and would be " assessing" it in " due course to determine whether any further action is required from us".

MOPAC said it was in contact with Southall Black Sisters and The Met Police to ensure that " the individuals involved are receiving appropriate support" adding it welcomed " the IOPC independently assessing the full circumstances of this incident".

Southall Black Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation established in 1979, describes itself as meeting " the needs of Black and minoritised women" with aims to " highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women".

The Group said: " We demand that appropriate action be taken against the assailant and the Police Officer . "

London's Victim's Commissioner has also been contacted for a response.

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Source of news: bbc.com