British Transport Police seek man after passenger holding baby bitten on south-east London train
British Transport Police have released an image of a man they want to trace after a passenger holding a baby was allegedly assaulted and bitten on a train between Maze Hill and Woolwich Arsenal on 5 September.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2British Transport Police (BTP) have released an image of a man they want to trace after a male passenger holding a baby was allegedly assaulted and bitten on a train in south-east London. Evening StandardN “British Transport Police have released an image of a man they want to trace after a passenger carrying a baby was allegedly assaulted and bitten on a train in south-east London.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “The force has issued a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to in relation to the incident.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2The incident happened at about 5.30pm on Saturday 5 September, on a service travelling between Maze Hill and Woolwich Arsenal stations. Evening StandardN “The incident happened at about 5.30pm on September 5 on a service travelling between Maze Hill and Woolwich Arsenal stations.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “at around 5.30pm on Saturday, September 5” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Police said a family was sitting on the train when a man approached them and became aggressive, then assaulted and bit the man who was holding a baby in his arms. Evening StandardN “Police said a family were sitting on the train when they were approached by a man, who became aggressive.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “"became aggressive before assaulting and biting a man who was holding a baby in his arms."” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Other family members who tried to intervene were also assaulted, according to police. Evening StandardN “Other members of the family who tried to stop him were also assaulted, officers said.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “Other members of the family tried to intervene during the incident and in doing so were also assaulted by the man.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1The suspect got off at Woolwich Arsenal and left the area before police arrived. Evening StandardN “The suspect got off the train at Woolwich Arsenal and left the area before police arrived.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1The Daily Mirror describes the image as CCTV and says it shows a man in a cream and black T-shirt under a black coat; it adds that no further description, such as height or build, has been given. Daily MirrorL “He can be seen wearing a cream and black tshirt under a black coat. No further description including height or build has been given.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Police ask anyone who recognises him to text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 581 of 5 September, or to pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Evening StandardN “quoting reference 581 of September 5. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1The man is described by police as someone who may have information that could help their enquiries; no arrest, injuries to the victims or motive have been reported. Evening StandardN “a man they believe may have information that could help their enquiries.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1The Daily Mirror adds background on possible penalties: a maximum of six months in custody for common assault or battery, and five years for actual bodily harm under Section 47. Daily MirrorL “A maximum sentence is 6 months in custody.”“Actual Bodily Harm (ABH - Section 47)” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Police-appeal report leading on the suspect fleeing Woolwich Arsenal station, quoting the passenger being 'bit and assaulted'.
- Emphasis
- The suspect's flight, his clothing and the legal penalties for assault.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not call the service the Underground.
- Charged language
- “bit and assaulted”
- For example
-
“Train passenger ‘bit and assaulted’ man holding baby before fleeing Woolwich Arsenal station” — Daily Mirror
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight police-appeal report, leading with a man carrying a baby being bitten in a 'violent row' on the Underground.
- Emphasis
- The attack on the baby-holder and the appeal for information.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No description of the man in the image and no sentencing context.
- Charged language
- “violent row”
- For example
-
“Man carrying baby bitten during violent row on London Underground, police say” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The incident was on a train between Maze Hill and Woolwich Arsenal at about 5.30pm on 5 September.
- A man allegedly bit and assaulted a male passenger holding a baby, and other family members were also assaulted.
- The suspect left the train at Woolwich Arsenal and fled before police arrived.
- BTP released an image and asked for information via 61016, 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers, quoting reference 581 of 5 September.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the incident was on the London Underground
- Left
- The Daily Mirror describes it only as a train in south-east London and does not call it the Underground.
- Centre
- The Evening Standard's headline places it on the London Underground.
Left1 article
-
Train passenger ‘bit and assaulted’ man holding baby before fleeing Woolwich Arsenal station
Neutral Police appeal stressing the suspect fleeing, with a description and legal penalty background.
Centre1 article
-
Man carrying baby bitten during violent row on London Underground, police say
Neutral Concise police-appeal report framed as a violent row on the Underground.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 5 Oct 16:39 First Evening StandardN Man carrying baby bitten during violent row on London Underground, police say
- 6 Oct 01:45 +9h 6m Daily MirrorL Train passenger ‘bit and assaulted’ man holding baby before fleeing Woolwich Arsenal station
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.