"This shouldn't happen," say a family who were targeted in a vile racist attack outside Queen Street Station in Glasgow.
Evelyn Leitizia, 41, from Glasgow, was on a day out showing some of her family the city for the first time on September 12, 2025.
When leaving the busy train station they were subjected to a horrible tirade of abuse from an aggressive gang of masked men, including threats to "stab them", to "cut off their heads" and "put them in a body bag."
She says the group also called her a "c****y" and told her and her relatives to "go back to where they came from" while one brandished a bottle of Buckfast.
Evelyn spoke about the terrifying ordeal to our sister paper, the Glasgow Times.
She said: "We had just come out of the station and the group of around five young boys approached us, most of them had masks and hoods on.
"They started shouting at us for no reason and making threats, they were really aggressive and kept making 'cut throat' motions.
"I tried my best to stick up for my family, my uncle and aunt were there and she was walking with a stick.
"It was horrible, I can't believe that my family came to visit me here from England and had to endure this hateful abuse."
Evelyn had video-called her husband Pete Moffat, 55, during the attack, who said he felt "helpless" as he watched the torrid abuse towards his wife and her family.
One of the group can be heard threatening to "shank" him as they hurled yet more vile abuse.
Pete, who stays in Yorkhill and is originally from the east end, said: "It was difficult for me to watch.
"It's heart-breaking too, the whole thing has left me ashamed to be Scottish, ashamed to be from Glasgow.
"That doesn't represent the city I grew up in or the way we should be treating people."
Pete also said it was "disheartening" that so many people just walked past them or "stood by and did nothing."
Evelyn showed the thugs her phone with Pete on the call in an attempt to calm the situation, but instead they started directing abuse at him while they can be heard mentioning a "machete" among other terrifying threats.
"It's unfortunately not the first time I've experienced racism here, but this has definitely been the worst," explains Evelyn.
She continued: "Some people just don't care. They see your colour and they see a shape of your face or whatever and will give you abuse.
"I'm not sure that people ever realise the impact their racist words have. More needs to be done to hold them accountable for things like this. It shouldn't happen."
Evelyn hasn't been back to the station and is "worried about the group still being on the loose."
Pete now fears for her safety when she's out alone and says that the impact will stay with them for a long time.
The family also say the experience has left them in fear for their two children, who have both experienced abuse since they all moved here six years ago.
Stand Up to Racism Scotland said they were "appalled to see such blatant racism in the streets of Glasgow" and they send their full solidarity to the family.
A spokesperson added: "The rise in racist violence is being fuelled by far-right-led protests and the hateful rhetoric of Nigel Farage.
"The demonisation of refugees and asylum seekers has emboldened bigots who are attacking people of colour across the country.
"We will not let this happen in our cities, our towns and our streets.
"We know that anti-racists are the majority in our communities and that now more than ever we need to come together to refuse racism and far-right politics, and to reclaim our streets."
Pete shares the fears of a rise in far-right activity in the city and the "overt unashamed racism at the moment", but said the biggest focus should be on educating people.
He explained: "It's not about blaming people for their ignorance or believing the propaganda. They need to be educated on the facts.
"For example, some of the stuff this group was saying was directed at benefits, my wife's never been near the welfare pot – she doesn't apply for it and works.
"She even studied here and paid thousands in fees. People like her actually put money into the country."
The British Transport Police confirmed that the force is investigating the incident. A spokesperson said: "Officers were called to Glasgow Queen Street at 8pm on Friday, 12 September, following reports of a family being racially abused outside the station.
"Enquiries into this incident are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 612 of 12 September."
More than two weeks on from the incident, Evelyn has been in contact with the force, although the officers say they have yet to trace the suspects or be able to give her an update.
