Were you a witness? Police appeal for information

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British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information after a man was racially abused on board a train between Leeds and Manchester on Wednesday, 27 June.

Investigators would urgently like to hear from anyone who was on the 10.37 Leeds to Manchester Victoria Northern Rail service who may have witnessed the incident.

Police Constable Mark Hibbert, investigating for BTP, said: “The victim, a 63-year-old man from Bramley, Leeds, boarded the train at Bramley station at around 10.44. He then got into an altercation with another man on the train who is then alleged to have become aggressive, racially abusing and threatening the victim with violence.

“The victim contacted BTP and officers attended and an 18-year-old male from Bradford was arrested in connection with the incident. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries until 27 July 2012.

PC Hibbert added: “We believe at number of people may have witnessed the incident and would like to hear from them and anyone else who was on the service at the time as a matter of urgency – your information could be valuable to the investigation.

“We would particularly like to hear from a middle aged female in a blue coat who left the train at Rochdale who we believe may have witnessed the whole incident, was this you? Please get in touch”

“The victim has been left extremely shaken by this incident. Racial abuse will not be tolerated on the rail network and we will always seek to trace and convict anyone who engages in unacceptable behaviour such as this.

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting log 230 of 27/06/2012 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.