Nuneaton businessman racially abused by women in front of kids on Sky News

A video has shown the shocking moment a businessman was racially abused mid-way through a Sky News segment.

Zahin, 32, was being interviewed by Midlandscorrespondent Shamaan Freeman-Powell about the divide of opinions on asylum seekers in Nuneaton. But as he was about to speak, two women began shouting at him in front of the children they appeared to be with.

In the clip, which has been circulating online, one of the women was holding a beerglass and blocked the camera. Zahin had barely began his interview with Sky, and asked the lady, "Can you not see we're talking?"

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The second lady went off on a tirade about religion and said: "That's the issue we're having with youse in our country, you're raping our kids." The first women launched a vile rant and referred to the racist term, "dirty monkeys", before shouting "save our kids".

Zahin, who re-located to the UK from Malawi when he was six, asked the woman: "What you teaching them kids?" The interviewer then asked the local business owner if he was alright. He responded: "I'm used to this conflict." Freeman-Powell added: "No one should be used to that."

The 32-year-old explained that he loves his town and believes he was targeted because they thought he was Muslim. He said: "For them to accuse us of a crime, that's unfair, that is unjust."

When asked how he feels about the protests which have hit towns across the UK, including Nuneaton, Zahin said he supports people's right to protest in general. He explained: "We have a right to protest for whatever cause we want to: that's the beauty of living in England."

Speaking about the current split between the community, Zahin continued: "Right now, I don't think we're a part of a community, it's more like sides. But there has to be a solution. And I think that solution comes through dialogue, not ranting off, swearing at each other. I mean we are in 2025 now."

According to Sky News, the confrontation lasted around five minutes, with raised voices at times, and though the team tried to de-escalate the situation, their attempts failed and they walked away. Following the confrontation, a woman called Natalie who works on the high street approached the Sky News team. She said: "I'm really sorry, I apologise for that.

"Nuneaton is actually a really warm town, believe it or not. Most people... they're kind, they are welcoming. But I think there's something in the air that's given a racist element real permission to be horrible. And I find it kind of upsetting."

The interview comes after a series of protests which have taken over Nuneaton. On August 9, a demonstration took place after two men who are reportedly Afghan asylum seekers allegedly abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

St George’s Cross flags and Union flags were held as protesters marched along the high street and chanted “Stop the boats” and “We want our country back”. Stand Up to Racism counter-protesters, who held placards and a banner reading “stop the far right”, were significantly outnumbered outside the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council offices.