NYPD Still On Hunt For Racist Attacker Who Set Fire To Scots Tourist
14 September 2016, 06:44 | Updated: 14 September 2016, 06:46
American police are searching for a man after he set fire to a Scottish Muslim tourist's clothes while she was shopping in New York.
A New York Police Department (NYPD) spokeswoman confirmed to the Press Association that the 35-year-old woman was from Glasgow and had been visiting the city.
Officers have released information on the incident, which happened on Saturday September 10 at around 9pm in front of the Valentino shop on Fifth Avenue.
The woman informed police that she was walking in the street when she felt something warm on her arm and noticed that her blouse was on fire.
She managed to pat down the fire and saw an unknown man holding a lighter next to her.
The man then made off on foot eastbound on East 54 Street.
The Scot is understood to be unharmed after refusing medical attention at the scene.
Police are treating the incident as a possible hate crime, with an NYPD hate crime task force investigation ongoing.
CCTV has been released showing a man wearing a black hat, black tank top, black trousers and black shoes walking away from the incident.
An NYPD spokeswoman said: "The 35-year-old female is from Glasgow, Scotland, and was here as a visitor.''
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This must have been a very frightening incident.
"The Scottish Government condemns all hate crime and hopes anyone with information about this assault contacts the NYPD.''
