Sikh Federation UK blasts 'unacceptable' police response to alleged racist attack outside Wolverhampton Railway Station

A video went viral on social media after X account 'The SikhNet' uploaded the clip, which has been reposted more than 1,600 times and has received more than one million views, appearing to show an attack by three people on two elderly men outside Wolverhampton Railway Station.

Sikh Federation UK said it has "spoken to both victims and their families following the attack".

It read: "The elderly gentlemen, both local taxi drivers, were on duty outside the station, while working for a local taxi firm. A group of three white men exited the station and approached one of the drivers and demanded he take them to Oldbury.

"One of the drivers told us they were very rude and abusive and ordered him to take them. He explained that the system does not work this way and that they would have to go into the taxi rank and book from there. They used the P-word and laughed, before walking away.

"The group then returned after being told the same by other drivers and were a lot more aggressive and abusive towards the driver.

"They then stepped to his face and started pushing him and within seconds he was being assaulted and punched in the face. 

"His dastaar (turban) was removed while he was being punched and attacked from all sides.

"When a colleague who was also a friend who is in his 70s tried to stop them and come to his aid the group turned on him and brutally attacked him. He has several broken ribs, is heavily bruised, having difficulty breathing and is in pain. 

"Both victims have been living and working in the UK for over 30 years, and never experienced such a violent and scary attack. The assault only stopped when members of the public intervened and shouted at them to stop as they recorded the whole thing.

"What is shocking is despite having many who witnessed the attacks as well as CCTV footage and taking the attackers into custody, the police officers only reached out to speak to the victims more than 48 hours after the attack as the video of the attack went viral. They were told due to limited resources their statements would be taken later today. No-one from victim support has been in contact despite such a brutal attack."

Jas Singh, principal advisor to the Sikh Federation UK, said: “These two elderly men have been left seriously injured and traumatised by this attack, with no support and limited follow up from the authorities or police.

“It is unacceptable that the follow-up yesterday only came after the video of the attack went viral.

“The UK Government, especially after Keir Starmer’s reference to ‘island of strangers’ immigration speech, needs to urgently address anti-Sikh hate and act upon the recommendations nearly five years ago by the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs.”

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the lead executive for political engagement at Sikh Federation UK added: “Keir Starmer in his efforts to appeal to Reform UK voters needs to accept he has unwittingly unleashed a level of hate with his irresponsible ‘island of strangers’ immigration speech.

“This also appears to be preventing him and the Labour Government delivering on their specific promise before the general election to treat anti-Sikh hate on a par with antisemitism and Islamophobia.”

British Transport Police (BTP) Superintendent Sue Peters is the local policing commander for the railways covering the Midlands.

She said: "I do not underestimate the level of concern this incident has caused to the victims and their families, the local community and beyond.

"In the interests of reassuring the community, I can confirm that BTP officers responded very quickly to make three arrests after the 999 call was made and an off-duty BTP chief inspector also stopped to assist.

"One 17-year-old boy and two men aged 19 and 25 were arrested in connection. They were taken into custody and later released on bail.

"Witness statements, CCTV and social media enquiries are also ongoing as part of a thorough investigation.

"We have taken a statement from one of the victims, and are due to take the second man's statement today (August 19). This has taken a short time following the incident because of the injuries the men suffered, and the understandable shock it caused them. 

"We arranged a suitable time to speak to them in accordance with their families' wishes, with the ongoing welfare of the victims being our number one priority. There have been some reports circulating that say the delay was caused by resourcing issues – this is not accurate.

"More widely we are engaging with our local MP, the Sikh community, as well as the Sikh Police Association, to listen to their concerns.

"We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour on the railway network and will be continuing our swift investigation. Anyone who witnessed what happened and who hasn’t already spoken to police should text 61016 quoting ref 353 of August 15."