Update – Violent Racist Attack on Selma Taha and Friends

A Statement from Selma Taha

On 5 October 2023, I made it known publicly that I and two friends had been the victims of racist abuse and physical violence on the tube, and that a police officer was present, off-duty, who had failed to intervene during the incident to de-escalate the situation so as to protect me and my friends.

In a development that is deeply shocking to the three of us, the CPS has now made the following charging decisions:

• No further action is to be taken against our assailant in relation to the assault. In relation to her racist abuse, she has been offered and accepted a caution for racially aggravated conduct contrary to s4A of the Public Order Act, in relation to one instance of racist abuse which she has admitted. No further action is to be taken in relation to other instances of racist abuse by her during the incident.

• We have all been charged with common assault by beating.

• One of my friends has also been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, in relation to alleged conduct towards a white British Transport police officer, after we had disembarked from the tube train.

• The other friend has also been charged with a public order offence, but without the racial aggravation, again in relation to alleged conduct towards the same police officer at the tube station after the attack.

Our first appearance in court will be at 10am on 11 April 2024, at Highbury Magistrates Court.

It would not be appropriate for me to make further public comment given this development, save to confirm that we will be fighting the charges, and that we regard these charges as criminalising the right of Black people, and in particular Black women, to call out racist abuse and resist racist violence.

I also want to express my gratitude for the support shown by so many of you to date, and to ask that you continue your support in the weeks and months to come.

Selma