Women's group boss in court on Tube attack charge

The director of a women's organisation has appeared in court alongside two others, charged with assaulting a woman in King's Cross Underground station.

Selma Taha, 52, from Southall Black Sisters, said she was bitten by a woman during an alleged racially motivated attack on the Tube on 29 September.

She appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Thursday alongside Divina Riggon, 40, and Danae Thomas, 52.

The case was adjourned until 26 April.

Ms Taha originally told BBC London an altercation began when she and two friends were travelling on a Northern line train.

British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed it was called to a dispute on a Northern line train at 23:30 BST on 29 September.

It said a woman in her 30s was cautioned for a racially aggravated public order offence.

All three defendants spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address.

Ms Riggon and Ms Thomas were originally also charged with harassment under the Public Order Act, but during the hearing Ms Thomas's charge was raised to the more serious offence of racially aggravated harassment, which could be tried at a crown court.

In a statement before the hearing, Ms Taha said: "It would not be appropriate for me to make further public comment given this development, save to confirm that we will be fighting the charges, and that we regard these charges as criminalising the right of black people, and in particular black women, to call out racist abuse and resist racist violence."

Defence barrister Harry Charalambous told the court a judicial review may also be launched by the defendants, who are all from Kensington, west London.

The case was adjourned due to the change in charge and potential judicial review.

Postponing the hearing, chair of the magistrates' bench Neil Taylor said "there is an expectation" that magistrates take pleas at the defendants' first appearance, adding "justice delayed is justice denied".

He said: "The expectation is there will be clarity in respect of whether a judicial review application has been lodged or not [by April 26] - we also expect on that occasion that defendants could be fully prepared on the changes in charge."

Southall Black Sisters is a not-for-profit organisation working for the needs of black and "minoritised" women, with aims to "highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women".

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