A newly opened restaurant in east London has been the target of what its owners describe as 'abhorrent' racist abuse, with a shocking incident occurring just five days after its launch.
Shocking Incident in Walthamstow
Customers and staff at the Axe and Ember Smokehouse in Walthamstow Village were subjected to a torrent of racial slurs on Sunday night. The attack happened while they were enjoying meals inside the premises, which had only opened its doors the previous Wednesday.
One of the owners, Uzma Hussain, a practising lawyer who was born and bred in the area, said she initially spotted a woman outside the window giving a 'thumbs down' signal for several minutes. When Uzma approached, the woman launched into a sustained verbal assault that lasted approximately half an hour.
'I have only ever had positive experiences in Walthamstow, so I just went into shock when she started calling me all of these horrible names,' Uzma told Metro. The abuse included the woman calling the group 'P***s' and stating, 'You are a p***, you are not from here.'
A Dream Business Targeted
Uzma and her husband Rizwan had poured their life savings into opening the Axe and Ember Smokehouse. Rizwan, who has a background in finance, decided to pursue his dream of running his own business. Uzma's one requirement for the venture was that it be located in her beloved hometown of Walthamstow.
'So that just made the attack all the more shocking,' she explained. 'It was so shocking it took me a few minutes to understand what was happening. At first I thought the woman was upset because she was vegan, but she told me: “You do know no one is going to come here because you are Asian”.'
Footage of the incident shows the woman continuing her tirade even when a man walking his dog intervened, telling her to 'take those opinions home'. She responded by repeatedly yelling, 'You f*** off.'
Community Support and Police Action
Customers inside the restaurant came to Uzma's support but were then abused themselves. One customer, Jimmy, recounted how the woman also called a female supporter 'a b****'. 'It’s just sad,' he said. 'These owners have only just opened up and do not have many customers yet.'
Despite the ordeal, Uzma said she has been heartened by the community's response. 'We have been inundated with messages asking if we are okay. And everyone who heard what was going on tried to intervene – it really is heartwarming.'
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault in connection with the incident. She remains in police custody while investigations continue.
The attack, which occurred on December 25, 2025, has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory first week for the new local business, highlighting issues of racism that persist in the capital.
