Man punches 12-year-old child on train, police say
Passengers had to restrain ‘increasingly aggressive’ man on ‘extremely packed train’
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A schoolboy was punched by a man acting “aggressively” on an “extremely busy” train, police say.
Passengers are said to have restrained the man after he began to behave threateningly towards those on board the 8.32pm Charing Cross to Gravesend service on Thursday.
Police say he became “increasingly aggressive” before punching a child, believed to be about 12 years of age.
A 28-year-old man from Greenhithe was removed from the train by British Transport Police officers at Waterloo East and arrested on suspicion of assault, being drunk and disorderly, and affray.
Officers are now attempting to trace the child who was reportedly assaulted.
British Transport Police Sergeant Tom Gallagher said: “I would ask anyone who witnessed this man’s behaviour and the reported assault on the child to please get in touch with us as soon as they can today to provide an account.
“The train was extremely busy and we believe many people helped to restrain him at the time who have not yet spoken to police.
“In particular, I would like to urge the victim of the assault, or their parents, to come forward and assist us with our enquiries.
“As you’ll imagine we are very concerned about the impact this incident could have had on them and we’d like to check on their welfare as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 635 of 25/07/19.