A woman will face court charged over allegedly Islamophobic attacks on two women at a shopping centre, as one of the victims says she remains terrified.
The 31-year-old Pascoe Vale woman is accused of assaulting a pregnant 30-year-old Muslim woman inside an Epping shopping complex in Melbourne’s north on Thursday, before allegedly attacking 26-year-old Ealaf Al-Easawi about 10 minutes later.
On Wednesday, Victoria police charged a woman with intentionally and recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault and aggravated assault.
It will be alleged the victims were targeted because of their head coverings.
Al-Easawi said she had been grocery shopping when the alleged attack occurred.
The 26-year-old said she was now too scared to leave her home and had trouble sleeping due to body aches, bruises and back pain.
“I feel terrified, traumatised and still can’t believe what happened to me,” she said.
“The scene won’t come out of my head. It keeps repeating itself in my mind.”
Investigators are also investigating a separate report of online threats being made against one of the victims.
Anthony Albanese was quizzed on Wednesday about the alleged incident.
“Any [alleged] attack on people on the basis of their faith or who they are is reprehensible, and I certainly hope that the perpetrators get tracked down and face the full force of the law,” the prime minister told reporters.
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Speaking generally, Albanese denied that Australians view Islamophobia differently to antisemitism, pointing to the appointment of a special envoy on Islamophobia.
“I take all attacks on the basis of people’s faiths seriously,” he said.
When asked about political leaders’ slow response to the alleged attack, Al-Easawi said it caused fear among the community.
“It causes this terrible thing inside that person [who is] feeling, ‘Oh, why aren’t they condemning this?’” she said.
“I am part of this country, and this country is a multicultural country.”
