Pathanamthitta: Three Malayali nurses were attacked while travelling to work in London on Sunday morning, in an incident being investigated as a possible racist assault.

The victims have been identified as Sobi from Madappally in Pathanamthitta; Daisy, also from Pathanamthitta; and Akshitha, from Punalur. All three are working as nurses in the UK.

The attack reportedly occurred around 7:30 a.m (British time) while the women were travelling by bus from Croydon to their workplace. A local woman allegedly boarded the bus carrying a knife and targeted the three Indian passengers.

Akshitha was kicked in the abdomen while trying to intervene and stop the knife attack. The assailant then turned attention towards Sobi and Daisy. Sobi was on a video call with her husband, John Paul, and their children in Kerala at the time. Her family saw the attack on the call and was reportedly distressed. The first assault happened near Sobi’s seat, and she was beaten while trying to intervene.

Other passengers on the bus managed to restrain the attacker before police arrived. Reports suggest the assailant shouted “Indians” during the incident, prompting the victims to file a complaint citing racial motivation.

The police shifted all three injured women to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, including the possibility of it being racially motivated.