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This is the shocking moment a man is racially abused on a Liverpool bus - before passengers step in to defend him.

The alarming video was taken by 26-year-old footballer Pavel Vieira and shows a man repeatedly making vile racial slurs against him.

Merseyside Police confirmed officers are investigating the incident and has promised to take the “strongest possible action.”

Pavel - who is from the African nation of Guinea-Bissau - had been at church on Friday evening and had boarded the number 21 bus at around 9pm as he headed back to his home near County Road, Walton.

He said as soon as he boarded the bus, the man started racially abusing him, so he started filming him and challenging him on his behaviour.

The man who can be seen issuing the racial abuse in the video clip is bald, wearing a beige jacket and carrying a shopping bag.

As the clip starts, the racist man can be seen trying to knock Pavel’s phone out of his hand.

He then tells him that he doesn’t like him because he is black, adding: “You shouldn’t even be here.”

Do you know the man in the incident? Email liam.thorp@trinitymirror.com or call 0151 3305042.

He can then be heard attempting to state that others on the bus share his racist views, saying: “Everyone is thinking it, they are all the same, why doesn’t everyone say something.”

But at this point, other passengers on the bus start to show their support, with one man shouting to Pavel “I’m Scouse, I don’t hate you mate.”

Others then join in condemning the racist attack - and one man comes forward to shake Pavel’s hand and speak out against the man.

But his horrific slurs continue, as he tells Pavel he has only come to the UK because “his mother was raped”, prompting more outrage from the passengers on the bus.

Pavel has shared the video with the ECHO because he wants people to see the man’s actions - but also because he wants to highlight the positive reaction he received from the Scousers on the bus.

The 26-year-old has played football for a number of UK clubs, including Bangor City and once had trials with Tranmere Rovers.

He has also been capped once for the Guinea-Bissau national side.

Speaking to the ECHO today, he said: “I want to share the video mainly because I would like to thank the people who stood up for me, I would like to meet them and hug them.

“After I got off the bus, more people came up to me and spoke with me and supported me.”

Pavel - who now works in a factory in Wavertree - said the racist attack had a major effect on him.

He said: “I couldn’t sleep at all last night, I could feel my heart beating so fast.

“I looked in the mirror and I felt ashamed - it made me wonder if I would be better just going back to my country.”

But he said he is determined to stay in Liverpool - a city which he loves - with his family and friends.

He added: “I want to stay here and keep working and supporting my family, I do feel a bit afraid, but I have to be strong for them.”

Pavel has reported the incident to Merseyside Police who have now launched an investigation into the incident and are appealing for information.

Detective Inspector Mark Drew said: “We will not tolerate hate crimes being committed against members of our community and I would like to take this opportunity to reassure people that we have specially trained officers who investigate cases with a view to robust action being taken against offenders.

“Everyone has the right to live peacefully within their community and to go about their daily lives without harassment from others just because they are perceived to be different. We will take the strongest possible action against this offender.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious that could help is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 18200067304 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/