Islamophobic and racially motivated attacks on public transportation are rising across the United Kingdom, prompting growing concern that many Muslims are limiting their daily travel out of fear of abuse or violence, according to new data obtained by The Guardian, according to Arab News.
Figures released through a Freedom of Information request show that racial hate crimes recorded by British Transport Police in England, Wales, and Scotland increased from 2,827 cases in 2019–2020 to 3,258 in 2024–2025. Religiously motivated hate crimes also rose, climbing from 343 incidents in 2019–2020 to 419 in 2023–2024.
Advocacy groups say public transport presents unique risks. Confined spaces, alcohol-fueled aggression, and the ease with which attackers can flee at the next stop often leave victims isolated and vulnerable.
Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, said the data mirrors testimonies collected nationwide. “For visibly Muslim passengers, a bus’s top deck or a half-empty train carriage can quickly become a threatening space,” she said, noting that her organization has handled some of its most distressing cases on public transit.
Ahmed added that a particularly alarming number of incidents involve children traveling to and from school. “Young people are being targeted simply because of their faith,” she said, warning that inadequate CCTV coverage on buses and at stops allows perpetrators to evade accountability.
Carol Young, deputy director of the Coalition for Racial Equality, cautioned that official figures likely understate the true scale of the problem. “Many people avoid reporting incidents or restrict their travel to certain times of day because they don’t feel safe,” she said.
In response, British Transport Police said hate-motivated abuse and violence would not be tolerated and urged victims and witnesses to report incidents. “No one should suffer in silence,” a spokesperson said.
As calls grow for stronger safeguards, community leaders warn that fear is quietly reshaping how and whether many Muslims move through public spaces.
