Footage shows woman in niqab shouting homophobic abuse at Pride march in Waltham Forest

Police have launched an investigation after a video has emerged of a woman appearing to shout homophobic abuse at people on a Pride march.

Wearing a black niqab, she can be heard in the footage posted on social media repeatedly shouting "shame on you" at the crowd, including at a man draped in a rainbow LGBT flag.

She can be heard saying: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Shame on you, shame on all of you.

"Shame on you, you despicable people. Shame on you, you shameless people."

The Metropolitan Police's Waltham Forest Twitter account said it was aware of the footage which was allegedly taken at a Pride event in Waltham Forest.

The force tweeted: "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."

Police said there had been no arrests and inquiries were ongoing.

In a separate incident, British Transport Police on Friday released CCTV images of men it wants to speak to in connection with an "unprovoked homophobic" attack on a train.

Police said the victim and his partner were on the 11.39pm service from London Liverpool Street to Shoeburyness, in Essex, on 14 April when a group of men began making homophobic comments.

One of the men is heard saying "gays should be strung up".

The victim was punched in the head several times as he tried to leave the train at Upminster Station and fell to the platform.

He was left unconscious for a number of minutes and sustained bruises.

Police believe the men in the CCTV footage may have information which could help with the investigation.

A BTP spokesman said: "No one should ever be targeted with abuse or violence because of who they are, or who they love.

"We take all reports of hate crime seriously and will work hard to identify perpetrators and bring them before the courts."

Four teenagers have been charged with a hate crime in connection with a lesbian couple being subjected to a suspected homophobic attack on a bus.

Melania Geymonat, 28, and her girlfriend Chris were allegedly targeted on the top of a double-decker London night bus as they travelled from West Hampstead to Camden Town.

Scotland Yard said four boys, two aged 16, one aged 15 and another aged 17, were charged with an aggravated hate crime under the Public Order Act

They will appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court on 21 August.