Ruhi was racially abused on a train (Picture: NCJ Media)

A woman who was racially abused when a thug shouted she was going to ‘bomb the train’ has thanked the people who stepped in.

Ruhi Rehman, 23, from Newcastle, was travelling on the Metro when a man approached and demanded she get off the train.

She was sitting quietly with her sister, but the man wouldn’t leave them alone he kept saying it was ‘my country’ – and even accused her of plotting a bomb threat.

Ms Rehman has thanked her fellow Geordies for sticking up for her.


Travellers on the train from Newcastle to Whitley Bay, many of them football fans, were disgusted by the man’s behaviour and rushed to Ruhi’s defence, demanding he leave her alone before forcing him off the Metro.



As he left the train in shame, other passengers cheered and clapped.

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Passengers on the Metro rallied behind Ms Rehman (Picture: Alamy)

Ruhi, of Newcastle, today thanked those who helped saying: ‘It was the true Geordie spirit that shone through. ‘

She explained the moment other commuters stepped in to defend her: ‘He was then saying stuff like “this is my country” and my sister told him we were born here and it was our country too.

‘It was then the other passengers started getting involved, telling him to leave us alone. Then he said to them “what, do you want her to bomb this train?”

A group of men demanded the man leave the Metro at the next station, telling him he was not welcome.

Here’s an onlooker’s account of the incident – warning, it contains strong language:

Islamaphobic man put in his place by metro passengers in Newcastle after verbally attacking two Muslim girls? #unity pic.twitter.com/oyWZBNpKNu — Raja OmarFarooq Khan (@RajaOmarFarooq) November 21, 2015

Ruhi added: ‘There was no violence or anything, they just made it clear he had to leave.

When the man got off the train at Palmersvile Metro, the carriage erupted into applause.

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People clapped and cheered when the man left the train in shame (Picture: Alamy)

‘I’d never seen anything like it,’ said Ruhi. ‘I have never felt more proud of being a Geordie. It was lovely that everyone came together to help us and I can’t thank them all enough.’

Ms Rehman admitted feeling a bit paranoid of anti-Muslim hate crimes since the Paris attacks.

But she said the encounter on the train made her feel ‘really optimistic and hopeful’.

Ruhi’s story has also had a strong reaction on social media from people praising the actions of the passengers.

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Sharon Kelly, managing director at DB Regio Tyne and Wear, which operates the Metro on behalf of Nexus, said: ‘We urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the police.

‘The safety of our passengers is paramount. I can assure customers that incidents of this nature are rare on Metro and they will not be tolerated.

‘A police investigation into this matter is now underway and we will work with them to help trace those responsible.’



Metro Inspector Ian King said: ‘Northumbria Police take a hard stance against any form of attack on any minority group or individual.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 191 23/11/15.’

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