By Alexander Darling and Cassandra Morgan
A woman will face court after allegedly assaulting two women in what police say is an Islamophobic attack in Melbourne’s north last week.
Police arrested the 31-year-old from Pascoe Vale on Wednesday morning, after the incident at the Pacific Epping shopping centre on Thursday, February 13.
Police allege two women were targeted because they were wearing head coverings.
The woman was to face court in Melbourne, but it was adjourned pending further information.
When the case is heard, likely to be Thursday, police will allege the victims were targeted due to wearing head coverings.
The woman was charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault and aggravated assault.
The incident has drawn condemnation from all sides of politics in Victoria, with the advocacy group Action Against Islamophobia also criticising police for its perceived mishandling of the investigation.
Police say they are also continuing to investigate a report of online threats being made against one of the alleged victims.
That woman, Ealaf Al-Esawie, told The Age on Wednesday morning she was threatened after detailing her experience on social media.
“One of them was like, he started swearing at me saying things like, ‘You’re working for the government’, ‘You’re a scammer’, ‘You’re a liar’, ‘I was in Epping Plaza [shopping centre] today and it was completely fine’,” she said.
“It doesn’t make sense, you know? I’m telling you my story.”
Al-Esawie said she was on her lunch break at the time of the incident and didn’t see her alleged attacker before it began.
“I just felt this smack punch across my face, and just [got] pushed so hard on the tiles,” she said.
“I have done literally done nothing, I don’t know that person, I just got absolutely randomly attacked. I am seeking justice – it’s not fair what happened to me and to the other lady.”
Al-Esawie also said she was grateful to two nurses having lunch nearby who came to help after the incident.
“They picked me up, put me on the chair [and said] ‘oh you poor thing, you didn’t do anything’. They started supporting me with those words,” she said.
“I was just crying and shaking, and they were really nice. One said ‘I’ll be your witness, I work in the Northern Hospital, if you need anything’...”
“I wish I was in contact with her so I can just thank her – she was absolutely incredible.”
Al-Esawie also said she had spoken to the other alleged victim, a pregnant woman.
“She said there were people just looking and who didn’t even bother to do anything and help out, which was ridiculous,” Al-Esawie said.
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