A WOMAN launched a religiously aggravated attack after being challenged for taking pictures of a grandmother wearing a hijab in a supermarket car park.

Police have released a CCTV image in a bid to trace an offender following the incident at Tesco Extra in Riverside Avenue in Bournemouth.

Officers were called following the incident at around 3.55pm on Thursday January 9.

A woman, wearing a hijab, was in the carpark with her daughter and granddaughter.

The daughter noticed a woman taking pictures of her mother. When she asked the woman to stop, an altercation occurred and she suffered swelling and pain to her face. The offending woman also shouted religiously aggravated abuse at the victim.

Police Constable Jack Cornick, of Bournemouth police, said: “Dorset Police takes hate crime very seriously and we are determined to identify the woman responsible.

“This was a very unpleasant and unprovoked incident, which left the family very upset.

“Following enquiries, I have obtained an image of a woman I would like to speak to and I am appealing to anyone who recognises her to please get in touch.”

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55200004380, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.