Two women have been arrested in Nuneaton after a businessman allegedly received a torrent of racist abuse during a TV interview.
Local business owner Zahin, 32, was being interviewed by Sky News about the divide in the town over attitudes to asylum seekers.
He had only just started to speak, stating his age, when he was seemingly interrupted by two women walking along the street with what appears to be a group of children.
The footage then shows Zahin subjected to racial abuse, with one person reportedly being pushed.
A 30-year-old woman and another woman aged 43 have both been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
The 43-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault.
Following the confrontation, Zahin told the Sky News team ‘I love this town’ but said he thinks he was targeted because they assumed he was Muslim.
‘For them to accuse us of a crime, that’s unfair, that is unjust,’ he said.
Local business owner Zahin, 32, is being interviewed by Sky News when he is interrupted by a woman holding a glass of beer
The woman moves in front of the camera while shouting a string of obscenities directed towards Zahin
Nuneaton has been home to a number of anti-immigration protests in recent weeks.
Quizzed about how he feels about the demonstrations, Zahin said he supports people’s right to protest in general.
‘We have a right to protest for whatever cause we want to: that’s the beauty of living in England,’ he said.
Speaking about the fault lines running through Nuneaton, Zahin said there is a need to build community and open dialogue.
‘Right now, I don’t think we’re a part of a community, it’s more like sides,’ he added.
‘But there has to be a solution. And I think that solution comes through dialogue, not ranting off, swearing at each other. I mean we are in 2025 now.’
A spokesperson for Warwickshire Police previously said: ‘We were aware of the incident prior to this footage being released, and it currently being investigated by Warwickshire Police.’
