'It's made me have an identity crisis': Londoners speak out about racist abuse

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. 'It's made me have an identity crisis': Londoners speak out about racist abuse Figure caption, London reporter records racist abuseByBhavani VaddeLondonPublished16 July 2026A man said something to me and I assumed he needed directions so I took my earbuds out to listen to him. What I heard shocked me. He was shouting, swearing and hurling vile racist abuse, telling me: "You need police protection, call the police.

"He walked away, I filmed him then he came back - repeating those words once again. I am a British Asian. This is in London, in my neighbourhood.

The Details

In the city I deliberately chose to make my home because of its diversity - the first place where I felt a sense of belonging after growing up in a less multicultural part of the country. That sense of belonging and safety has now been badly shaken, and I'm not alone in this. After I shared what happened on social media, messages started coming in from people who have had similar experiences.

Image caption, Uzma Hussain was harassed by a woman outside her restaurant in Walthamstow VillageOne of them is Uzma Hussain, who had opened the Axe and Ember Smokehouse with her husband in Walthamstow Village just before Christmas. A few days later, a woman stood outside the window – gesturing a thumbs down. Uzma thought she didn't like meat or was perhaps a vegetarian, so went out to speak to her.

"She just started saying some really, really horrible things. She was like, 'You don't belong here. '"And then she called me, the P-word.

What Experts Say

I've never been called that before. "I went from surprised, shocked, not believing what had happened to really angry at one point. "'It's not fair'Uzma, who was born and bred in Walthamstow, says the abuse went on for at least 30 minutes.

Uzma, who works as a lawyer, became tearful as she described the emotional toll it's taken. "I think it's affected me far more than I thought it would because ultimately it's just words. "You know why do I care what someone...

who doesn't know me thinks about me? "Uzma says the abuse left her questioning where she belongs after being told she wasn't welcome in the place she calls home. "It's kind of made me almost have an identity crisis, you could say.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.