POLICE have arrested a man after an alleged racial attack in Sunderland.
At around 3.40pm on Sunday afternoon Northumbria Police reported that a woman was assaulted and racially abused inside the Bridges Shopping Centre.
The victim had left the scene but a number of witnesses overheard the incident and then contacted the police.
Officers from Northumbria Police carried out enquiries throughout Sunday afternoon (July 3) and were able to locate the woman.
She was not injured but was "very shaken" after the suspected assault.
A 55-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated assault and remains in police custody at this time.
Sergeant Maria Ord, of Northumbria Police Southern Area Command, said: "This kind of incident will not be tolerated in our region and we will act quickly to identify those we believe to be responsible.
"On this occasion the female victim was very shaken by the attack but I want to commend the witnesses in the area who came to her aid and contacted police.
"This is very much an isolated incident but extra patrols will be on patrol to reassure any concerned members of the public."
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