The Muslim woman who was photographed looking at her phone while walking past a victim being treated on the pavement at Westminster Bridge on the day a terrorist ploughed his car into passers-by, has clapped back at trolls for slamming her over the photo without understanding what really happened. Speaking about the incident to Tell Mama, an organisation which supports victims of anti-Muslim hate, the woman said she was devastated and had helped the victims before picking her phone to call her family. She said
‘I’m shocked and totally dismayed at how a picture of me is being circulated on social media. I have been devastated by witnessing the aftermath of a shocking and numbing terror attack.’
‘To those individuals who have interpreted and commented on what my thoughts were in that horrific and distressful moment, I would like to say not only have I been devastated by witnessing the aftermath of a shocking and numbing terror attack, I’ve also had to deal with the shock of finding my picture plastered all over social media by those who could not look beyond my attire, who draw conclusions based on hate and xenophobia.
‘My thoughts at that moment were one of sadness, fear, and concern. What the image does not show is that I had talked to other witnesses to try and find out what was happening, to see if I could be of any help, even though enough people were at the scene tending to the victims.
‘I then decided to call my family to say that I was fine and was making my way home from work, assisting a lady along the way by helping her get to Waterloo station.
‘My thoughts go out to all the victims and their families. I would like to thank Jamie Lorriman, the photographer who took the picture, for speaking to the media in my defence.’