Police want to speak to a prominent Trump supporter and her male companion over an alleged incident in which a woman was pepper-sprayed and racially abused in central London.
Officers believe the man and woman, identified as Make America Great Again supporter and PR executive Melissa Anne Lively, 40, and Philipp Ostermann, a venture capitalist, could have information that may help them with their investigation.
Lively previously supported far right conspiracy theorists QAnon movement but has since publicly rejected their views.
She is the founder of the America First public relations agency that provides ‘anti woke’ services.
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She recent said of Maga in an interview with AFP: ‘It’s so much bigger than politics. It’s friendships, it’s relationships.’
Referring to what has been termed the ‘Maga look’ for women in the movement with long blonde hair and immaculate make-up she said: ‘That Maga look really signals you are on the same team.’
BTP said the victim was walking into Bond Street Underground Station at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 11, when her pushchair collided with a woman walking ahead of her.
A man who was with the woman began shouting racial abuse at the victim, before the woman grabbed her hair, according to the British Transport Police (BTP).
When the victim, who was with her two children and her sister, tried to defend herself, the man pulled out a small bottle and said it was pepper spray before spraying it in the family’s direction.
The woman then shouted more abuse and made lewd gestures at them before the pair left the area.
The BTP is making enquiries to confirm what the substance was. The family did not report any ill affects from it.
Melissa recently posted a picture on Instagram outside Sotheby’s on Bond Street, wearing the same outfit as the woman in the BTP photo, captioned: ‘With love from London’. She has since deleted her account.
Mr Ostermann had been listed to speak at a private equity conference at the Syon Park stately home near Heathrow on October 14.
He was part of a panel discussion titled ‘Delivering operational resilience and drive growth through robust cash management’.
Anyone who with information is asked to text BTP on 61016, using the reference 413 of 12 October.
Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Metro has asked both Mr Ostermann and Ms Rein Lively to comment.
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