Pensioner rips veil from Muslim woman’s face

A pensioner ripped a veil from a Muslim woman in a South Tyneside supermarket. The 79-year-old approached the woman as she shopped in Asda, in Ocean Road, at around 11.45am yesterday.

She asked her to remove her veil and started to question her religion. When the 45-year-old refused to take off her veil, the pensioner ripped it from her face.

The pensioner, from South Shields, was detained in the store and police were called. She received a police caution for racial aggravated assault.

Shields Gazette, 15 July 2008