West Yorkshire Police have arrested a man and woman on suspicion of racially aggravated assault after a British NHS nurse was subjected to racist abuse, Nazi salutes, and physical assault in Halifax.
The incident took place on Thursday in Manor Heath Park, where NHS nurse Apple Moorhouse, from Huddersfield, was walking with her parents and her two daughters, aged six and 11.
Ms Moorhouse, who has worked in the NHS for 12 years and is of Filipino descent, said she asked the couple to control their dog, which was making her youngest daughter feel unsafe. The situation escalated into verbal and physical abuse.
Footage recorded by the nurse and her daughter showed the man performing Nazi salutes, telling his dog to “kill” her, and asking whether she had “come here on a rubber boat.” He also shouted: “Ban the immigrants,” while making offensive gestures.
The woman with him allegedly grabbed Ms Moorhouse’s hair, pushed her to the ground, and snatched her phone. The nurse suffered a pulled rib and bruising to her hands, requiring hospital treatment.
Police confirmed: “A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. Both remain in custody and enquiries are ongoing.”
Ms Moorhouse described the attack as “disturbing and frightening,” saying she now fears returning to the park with her children.
West Yorkshire Police thanked the public for their assistance after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.