Belly Mujinga: Police recover CCTV of suspect who spat at railway worker before her death with coronavirus
Investigation launched seven weeks after attack at London’s Victoria station
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Police are examining CCTV footage of a man who coughed and spat at a railway ticket office worker two weeks before she died of Covid-19.
The suspect, described by one witness as around 50 years old and smartly dressed, claimed to be infected with the coronavirus when he confronted Belly Mujinga and a colleague at Victoria station on 21 March.
Ms Mujinga was admitted to hospital on 2 April and died three days later after testing positive for the disease.
The incident prompted a public outcry, with prime minister Boris Johnson commenting: “The fact that she was abused for doing her job is utterly appalling.”
On Wednesday night her employers Govia Thamslink Railway (GTR) confirmed it had passed video of the incident to police.
British Transport Police said officers were reviewing the footage as part of the investigation but did not plan to release it to the public at present.
The force said they had launched a “full investigation into the circumstances” after receiving a report of the alleged assault on 11 May – nearly six weeks after Ms Mujinga’s death.
Colleagues of Ms Mujinga, the mother of an 11-year-old daughter, said they remain concerned for their saftey as travel numbers increase following the relaxation of the lockdown restrictions.
Victoria station gate worker Victor Bangura, 34, said: “Imagine you see someone now like me and the next time they are dead.
“My whole body went into shock. I was very, very emotional. We are all vulnerable, in the same station, it could happen to any one of us.”
Another worker, who gave her name as Gabby, said staff were first given masks to wear on Wednesday.
She said: “There’s not much being done to check all the staff, today is the first day we have had masks.
“I’m really worried about more people coming through and how we’re going to deal with them.”
GTR said it began providing face masks to staff following a change in advice from the government.
“Previously, the official Government advice was that PPE (personal protective equipment) for our staff was not required,” said a spokesperson.
“We have regularly briefed our people to keep washing their hands and to socially distance as far as possible while working and continue to do so.
“In light of the Government information that has only just come out in the last couple of days, this week we have been giving masks to operational colleagues.”
Ms Mujinga’s union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), has called for the compensation scheme to be extended to transport workers who die with coronavirus. The scheme currently offers £60,000 to the grieving families of healthcare workers.
An online fundraiser set up by her colleagues has gathered more than £31,000 in donations towards the funeral and to support the family.
BTP are asking for anyone with information to contact them by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040 quoting reference 359 of 11/05/20.
Additional reporting by Press Association