Transit Police in Metro Vancouver are looking for two women who allegedly yelled racial slurs at non-white SkyTrain passengers then "viciously attacked" one woman who tried to stop them.

The incident happened shortly after midnight, early Saturday Sept. 19, on the lower concourse level of the Granville SkyTrain station in downtown Vancouver.

The two women, in their 20s and apparently dressed for a night out, were yelling racial slurs and harassing non-white passengers, said Transit Police spokeswoman Anne Drennan.

"Another woman ... saw that this was very inappropriate behaviour and very politely asked them to stop," she said.

"She was attacked by these two women. She was punched, knocked to the ground, kicked, and grabbed by her hair. "

Drennan described it as a "vicious attack" that left the woman "fairly seriously hurt as a result of just trying to do the right thing."

The woman who was attacked got away, called police, and was transported to hospital for treatment of cuts, bruises, an injured arm and a black eye.

The alleged attackers left the scene on a SkyTrain heading westbound to Waterfront Station.

No investigative leads

Transit Police are releasing the images now, more than two months after the incident, because investigative leads have dried up, said Drennan.

"We don't like to put out photos of suspects to the general public until we've pretty well done everything else that we possibly can because it can taint an identification process."

Drennan said the two suspects may have been inebriated.

"They were behaving as though they were drunk. Staggering, falling down, sometimes losing their footing, that sort of thing."

The first suspect is described as:

White female.

Early 20s.

Long straight brown hair.

Brown eyes.

Wearing a black mini-dress, short light-coloured denim jacket, high heels.

Carrying a black and white clutch purse.

The second suspect is described as:

White female.

Early 20s.

Long straight brown hair.

Brown eyes.

Wearing a black mini-dress, brown bootie-style high heels.

Carrying a black jacket and a large black shoulder bag.

Anyone with information on the incident or who knows the women is asked to call Transit Police at 604-515-8300 (ref. file 15-17058) or send a text to 87 77 77.