Police are looking into a possible hate crime after videos have emerged showing a woman shouting abuse at Pride supporters.

Videos posted by Moor Hair on Instagram (above) and by Yusuf Patel on Twitter show a woman wearing a niqab repeatedly shouting 'Shame on you' to people taking part at the first-ever Waltham Forest Pride event on Saturday (July 27).

In the Twitter video, the woman can be heard shouting to a person wearing a rainbow flag: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Shame on you, shame on all of you."

Met Police tweeted on Sunday: "We are aware of footage circulating on social media of abuse directed at those taking part in the Waltham Forest #Pride event #wearewalthamforestpride and enquiries are underway.


"Abusing someone because of  their sexual orientation or gender identity is a hate crime.

"If you have been verbally or physically abused, harassed or attacked in any way by someone because you are or they think you are LGBT+ please report these crimes to police or through a third party agency."

A spokesperson said the force received a report from a third party and is treating the incident as a hate crime. 
Officers are assessing a video and making enquiries. There have been no arrests.

Organisers of the Pride event said in a statement: "July 27 saw hundreds of people from the LGBTQ+ community along with their friends and allies from all walks of life, take part in the first-ever Pride Parade in Waltham Forest. 

"We were delighted that people from all the major faiths, Christian, Jewish and Muslim marched alongside non-religious people to show everyone in our great borough of Waltham Forest that we’re here, queer and proud of who we are, and celebrate and cherish the diversity that makes us one of the greatest communities in London.

"On Sunday, we were made aware of a video showing an individual shouting homophobic abuse at some in the parade.

"The police are looking into this as a potential hate crime and while we condemn all homophobic abuse, we also condemn outrightly and unequivocally all forms of hatred and abuse, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, and want to make it absolutely clear that this was one, lone individual and in no way do these views represent the views of any section of the local community.

"It’s depressing, but comes as no surprise, that far-right commentators like Katie Hopkins have seized on this video and tried to use it to hasten their twisted view of society in order to stigmatise the Muslim community in Waltham Forest. 

"We utterly condemn her, and anyone else, who attempts to use this incident to fan the flames of discord between communities in our great borough. Hear this – it hasn’t worked in the past, it won’t work now, and it never will.

"We will continue to work with the Muslim community and value their support, because none of us are free until all of us are free."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Screenshot of the video by Moor Hair / capturephotographyuk.co.uk

Ebony Vincent, 38, from Leyton, was taking part in the parade when the incident happened. She filmed the incident and posted it on her family's business page Moor Hair. 

She said: "It’s really really important to emphasise the fact that this is one person’s view among a community that is united in Waltham Forest.

"We’re proud of Waltham Forest. We’ve grown up here and raised children here.

"I think the offence has highlighted the need for a bigger, better-funded pride event annually in Waltham Forest. Because I think the hate comes out of fear of the unknown.

"We’ve got family members who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

"We generally just love all communities and the diversity in our borough, so it was a massive shock.

"For the day itself, people were beeping in their cars, people were waving, lots of people were taking pictures and high fiving everyone.

"The rain held off, which was a miracle in itself. It was amazing. It’s a shame that such a wonderful event has been taken over by the ignorance of one woman."

Due to the weather forecast, the Pride event in Walthamstow town square was cancelled on the day. But brunch, the march and the afternoon and evening parties went ahead. 

The march began at the Baker's Arms in Walthamstow at around 11am and ended at the King William IV pub in Leyton.