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London is grappling with a disturbing and violent new trend as women report being deliberately "body-slammed" by male strangers in unprovoked attacks. Victims describe the assaults as abrupt, shocking, and leaving them physically and emotionally scarred, raising serious concerns about public safety in the capital. Adding to these anxieties are specific worries about the targeting of Muslim women in East London, where their visible religious attire may make them more vulnerable.
One harrowing account comes from TikTok user Ayla Mellek, 20, who recounted her terrifying experience on an East London canal path. Mellek described being violently thrown to the ground in broad daylight by a "massive" man who ran at her with full force. "I just got assaulted today in broad daylight," she stated in a viral video, detailing how she "twisted in the air and landed face down on the floor" after the unprovoked assault. Her hands were injured in the fall, and the man fled the scene.
Disturbingly, Mellek's experience is not an isolated incident. While still in shock, she learned from a couple nearby that they had witnessed the same man push an elderly gentleman into the canal. Following this information, she reported the assault to the police.
Comments on Mellek's TikTok video reveal a pattern of similar attacks. Ella Bailey shared her own terrifying ordeal outside Old Street station, where she was "body slammed so hard [she] got knocked over backwards onto the concrete," resulting in injuries and a broken camera. Another user reported a similar assault on a platform at Bank Station.
The Metropolitan Police are actively investigating these alarming incidents. Following reports of four people being assaulted in Mile End earlier this month, a man has been charged. Samuel Flowers, 38, of Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with four counts of common assault. Acting Detective Chief Supt Brittany Clarke acknowledged the public's concern, stating, "While we have a man in custody, local officers will continue to patrol around the canal and surrounding areas."
Police believe these body-slamming incidents may be linked to a wider phenomenon known as the 'Bumping Man' trend, which originated in Japan. Reports surfaced on social media in May 2018 of men deliberately carrying out body-slamming attacks on women, particularly at train stations. Incidents in Japan, such as the arrest of a 49-year-old man in 2019 after three women were injured, and a 45-year-old man in 2020 after six women were harmed, highlight the severity of this behavior. Experts in Japan have suggested these assaults may be a form of stress relief for attackers, who target individuals perceived as weaker.
The prevalence of these attacks in East London, an area with a significant Muslim population, raises additional concerns for Muslim women. Anecdotal evidence and reports from community groups suggest that Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijabs or other religious attire, may be disproportionately targeted in such unprovoked assaults. The increased visibility of their faith may make them more susceptible to individuals harboring anti-Muslim prejudice, adding another layer of vulnerability to an already disturbing trend.
As investigations continue, Londoners are urged to remain vigilant. The emergence of this violent trend, and the specific concerns for vulnerable communities, underscores the critical need for continued efforts to ensure public safety, challenge prejudice, and to address any underlying motivations behind such disturbing acts of aggression.
