Images have been released of a woman detectives want to speak to in connection with a racist attack in Bethnal Green.

East London Advertiser: The 18-year-old and two friends were in McDonald's in Bethnal Green Road when a woman started hurling racist abuse at them. Pic: MET POLICEThe 18-year-old and two friends were in McDonald's in Bethnal Green Road when a woman started hurling racist abuse at them. Pic: MET POLICE (Image: Archant)

The pictures released today show a black woman dressed in a black coat aged about 40 years wearing gold hooped earrings.

It follows a Met appeal after a woman hurled racist abuse at three Asian teenagers in McDonald’s in Bethnal Green Road at 2.55pm on October 3.

Det Con Anton Arulnayagam said at the time of the first appeal: “This was a distressing incident believed to have been racially motivated.

“Unfortunately, we have not yet identified the attacker and we hope that releasing this image will result in someone coming forward with a name. We are also keen to hear from witnesses who saw the incident, and from a man who attempted to intervene and stop the assault.”

The three 18-year-olds left the restuarant but the suspect followed them to the junction of Roman Road and Victoria Park Square where she spat at one of them.

She then grabbed one of the women by her headscarf and hair before punching the back of the neck three times.

The attack caused a public outcry with an anti-racism march seeing campaigners, schools staff, council workers, union reps and politicians walk the route taken from the takeaway to the junction.

Anyone with information should contact officers via 101 or call Central East Command on 07500 975395 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.