An angry crowd blocked a busy road in south east London today after a social media video appeared to show a shop owner putting his hands around a woman’s throat.
Dramatic footage circulating on social media yesterday showed a scuffle between a woman and man – believed to be the owner of Peckham Hair and Cosmetics – Sohail Sindho, 45, who appears to put his hands around her throat after she allegedly tried to steal from his store.
A large crowd gathered outside the shop in Rye Lane this afternoon, which had already closed after news of the fight spread on social media.
Anti-racism campaigners were protesting against what they claimed was an ‘example of everyday male violence against women’.
The video, posted on Instagram, starts with Mr Sindho standing behind the woman as they grip onto each other while a person behind the camera threatens to call the police.
The woman then hits him over the head with a plastic shopping basket after he appears to put his hands around her neck.
The Met Police told MailOnline a woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and later bailed pending further enquiries. The force said the shop worker has not been arrested.
Dramatic footage shows a scuffle between a woman and man, believed to be the owner of Peckham Hair and Cosmetics, Sohail Sindho, 45, who appears to put his hands around her throat after she allegedly tried to steal from his store
Shop owner Sohail Sindho,told MyLondon he ‘regrets’ the incident but alleged the woman was the initial aggressor. He told MyLondon ‘the woman came to the shop to ask for a refund on some hair she’d bought’ but a scuffle ensued when he refused
The video, posted on Instagram, starts with the man standing behind the woman as they grip onto each other
He then grabs on to her neck as she desperately tries to free herself by hitting him with the shopping basket
She then yells ‘call the police’ as she claims he strangled her but he refuses to let go.
The shop’s owner Mr Sindho alleged that, after refusing a woman a refund on some hair products, an argument broke out and she attempted to take items from the shelves and walk out.
Growing anger over the clip on social media led to calls for residents to boycott the shop and sparked a planned protest outside the shop at 2pm today.
The store closed in advance and a crowd has been gathered around the area with people peacefully protesting what they see as an ‘example of everyday male violence against women’.
A small crowd initially gathered outside the shop with banners which steadily grew as bystanders joined in.
A local resident in a stab vest, who said he was providing security for the event, said he was there to ensure the safety of members of the community during the protest.
Protesters are still there nearly two hours after the demonstration began, covering the road and pavement in Rye Lane.
A large crowd gathered in Rye Lane outside the shop, which had already closed after news of the fight spread on social media
Growing anger over the clip on social media led to calls for residents to boycott the shop and sparked a planned protest outside the shop at 2pm today
The Met Police provided a statement for the initial incident and the protest this afternoon.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander for Southwark, told MailOnline: ‘We know people will be concerned about a video circulating online of an incident in a shop.
‘Our officers attended on Monday and continue to investigate the full circumstances of what has taken place.
‘The investigation will include reviewing the actions of everyone involved. I would like to thank people in our local community for remaining calm and giving us the time to conduct a thorough investigation.
‘If you have information that may help us I would urge you to get in touch.’
The Met says officers were called to the shop in Rye Lane, Peckham, at 1.16pm on Monday when it was reported that a 31-year-old woman attempted to steal items and an employee prevented her from leaving. The woman was also accused of assault.
She was arrested on suspicion of assault and later bailed pending further enquiries.
The Met Police asks that anyone with any information about this incident calls 101 quoting CAD 3943/11Sep. It is not believed Mr Sondhi has been arrested as part of the Met’s response to the initial incident.