Just when we thought the world could not get any weirder or crueller, along come these two *****.
The British Transport Police (BTP) have released a photo of a man and a woman they wish to speak to following a racially aggravated assault on a family at Bond Street Tube station last month.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 pm on Saturday, 11 October. According to the BTP, a woman was entering the station with her sister and her two young children, one of whom was in a pushchair.
The force reported that the man and woman pictured were walking in front of the family when the woman “collided with the pushchair.” The situation then escalated rapidly.
The man, identified by media reports including Sky News as Philip Ostermann, allegedly shouted racial abuse at the victim and her family. The woman, identified as Melissa Rein Lively, then allegedly grabbed the victim’s hair.
When the victim attempted to defend herself, the BTP stated that the man pulled out a small bottle he claimed was pepper spray and sprayed it in the direction of the victim and her family.
“The woman shouted abuse and made lewd gestures at them before both parties left the area,” the force added.
Police have confirmed they are still working to identify the substance that was sprayed, but reported that the victims suffered no ill effects.
The Bond Street Incident: The Mask Comes Off
The alleged events of 11th October at Bond Street station move their conduct from the realm of online provocation to that of a real-world, violent hate crime. According to the British Transport Police report:
- After a minor collision with a pushchair carrying a child, the couple did not offer an apology or check on the child.
- Instead, Ostermann allegedly unleashed a torrent of racial abuse at the mother and her family.
- When the victim responded, Melissa Rein Lively allegedly physically assaulted her, grabbing her hair.
- As the victim tried to defend herself, Ostermann then allegedly produced a small bottle, claimed it was pepper spray, and sprayed it towards the woman and her children.
The identification of Ostermann and Lively connects the alleged assault to their public profiles. Lively is a public relations consultant who describes herself as an “anti-woke” commentator. Philip Ostermann is known to be her partner and is often involved in her media and public activities.
The BTP is appealing to the public for information. Anyone who recognises the people in the photo is asked to text BTP on 61016 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 2400108394.
.
