Fourth teenager arrested over attack on train

A fourth teenager has been arrested after an unprovoked attack on a Swedish teacher who had her hair set alight on a train, British Transport Police (BTP) said today.

The 15-year-old boy attended a police station in Bromley, south-east London, on Saturday, where he was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident on a train running from Hastings, East Sussex, to London Victoria.

Two other 15-year-olds who were arrested last week answered bail today. One was re-bailed until September 18 and the other until 29 September.

Another teenager, aged 16, is also due to return on police bail on 29 September, along with the boy arrested on Saturday. All four teenagers are from Swanley in Kent.

The arrests follow the release last week of CCTV images of four youths police wanted to speak to over the attack on the Southern Trains service at around 6.30pm on Sunday, 19 July.

The victim, a Swedish teacher visiting England with a group of her students, was walking through the carriage when one of a gang of youths held out a lighter and touched her hair.

She only realised her hair was on fire when she walked towards her students and they started screaming and pointing to her hair. The teacher was then able to pat out the flames.

The attack left part of her hair singed and although she did not suffer burns or need hospital treatment, the incident is said to have left her extremely distressed.

* Anyone with further information about the incident should call 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.