Train passengers horrified as man launches racist tirade in packed carriage

This is the shocking moment a man went on a racist tirade against passengers on a packed London train.

Witnesses said a group of four men boarded a train at London Bridge at around 11pm on Thursday night, claiming someone had passed them on an escalator and wanted to find them.

A passenger began filming a man in a tan coat, who can be heard shouting at the carriage “listen, this is England, not the damn foreigner like you”.

A 70-year-old woman was racially abused and shouted at after challenging the group, passengers on the Bedford to Three Bridges service said.

A video showing part of the confrontation was posted on X, with one passenger saying it was “easily the most horrific journey and experience” he had ever had.

Mary Mandefield, a BBC and Hits Radio presenter on the carriage, said The Independent: “Four of them tangled on London Bridge.

“The police were not on the train. We were on a very long stretch between Norwood Junction stuck with them.

“The principal who started it all understood, then his friends got angry.

“A lot of people challenged them, but then they turned on anyone who stood up to them.

“So we were like, ‘We’ll leave them alone and wait for the police to come.’

The witness said a “stunning” pensioner confronted the group during the incident.

She added: “The girl sitting next to me had to defend me, she was really scared.

“As soon as I stopped filming, he started calling me the C-word and telling me to go back to my own country, all that. The video is the quietest.

“A woman came down at the same time as me. He told me he was 70 years old, but he had to face it. But he was still shouting in front of her.”

In the video, a passenger responds to the tirade, calling it “embarrassing”, before a second man appears to shout back: “It’s not about race, it’s not about race.”

Another tells the first man to “calm down” before saying: “You’re kicked out now.”

The video quickly went viral, with social media users expressing their disgust.

Ms Mandefield posted on X about the effect on her: “People may say racism isn’t a big deal anymore, but you wait until you’re being looked down upon by a racist yelling insults at you (and any black person) when they . you have those bright eyes and you know they could take you down if they wanted to.

“Lots of shaken people and a few tears, including children, but otherwise ok.”

British Transport Police said they were investigating two counts of section 5 racially aggravated public order offences. The force added that a number of people had been removed from the train but no arrests had been made.

A spokesman said: “Officers were called to East Croydon station by a text message to 61016 at around 10.59pm yesterday (April 18) following reports of a fight on board a train from Luton to Three Bridges.

“Officers attended and those involved were identified and removed from duty. Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 930 of 18/04/2024.”

Sam Facey, director of safety, health and security at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “Behavior like this is completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. This was a harrowing experience for those involved.

“We would like to thank the rail staff who intervened and the British Transport Police officers who responded so promptly. We will continue to assist BTP with their enquiries.’