A woman wearing a hijab was spat on in a “possible hate crime” in New Westminster on the B.C. Day long weekend, said police.
The incident occurred at the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in the 500-block 6th Street around 10 p.m. Sunday.
The woman was sitting eating a meal when a stranger came up behind her and spat on her before walking away, said Staff Sgt. Sanjay Kumar of the New Westminster Police Department. “The victim was minding her own business and never saw it coming. She just felt the spit on her.”
The woman then talked to her attacker, who allegedly made “hateful” comments about the victim’s religious background before walking out of the restaurant.
Based on those comments, and because the victim was wearing a hijab, New West police said it is investigating a possible hate crime and is seeking witnesses to the assault.
“We’re hoping somebody can help us identify the suspect, so we can find out what the motivation was behind the assault,” Kumar said.
Police have obtained CCTV footage from the restaurant, which corroborated the victim’s account.
“She is understandably quite upset but we applaud her bravery and the staff at McDonald’s” which came to her aid and helped her call police,” he added.
The suspect is described to be in her late 40s or early 50s, with dark brown straight shoulder-length hair and wearing a black and white top. She was pushing a shopping cart.
Anyone who recognizes the woman or saw the incident is asked to call New West police at 604-525-5411.
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