Two separate attacks on an elderly man and woman were carried out by a group of teenage girls on trains travelling from London Bridge to Woolwich Arsenal and Erith on 18 March. Authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspects.
A pensioner was assaulted by a group of teenage girls on a South London train in separate incidents on the evening of Tuesday, 18 March. The first attack occurred at around 9.30pm on a Southeastern service travelling from London Bridge to Woolwich Arsenal. The man was on board the train when three girls allegedly carried out the assault.
Later that night, at approximately 11pm, an elderly woman was attacked by a girl on another train journey from London Bridge to Erith. During this second incident, another woman intervened to help, but the girl then tried to attack her as well. Authorities believe the same group of teenage girls were involved in both assaults.
Descriptions of the suspects have been released by British Transport Police. One girl was seen wearing a pink top beneath a black parka with a fluffy hood. The second wore a black jacket featuring a red logo on the right arm, paired with grey trousers and black shoes. The third girl apparently had on a black jacket along with a grey tracksuit.
British Transport Police are urging anyone who recognises the individuals to come forward. They can be contacted by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting the reference number 770 of 18 March. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incidents are dated specifically to 18 March, and the narrative presents recent police appeals with reference numbers and contact details suggesting ongoing investigations. There is no indication that the events are recycled from older reports. The timeliness appears intact given that the current date is April 2025 and the events occurred within the prior two months.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
No direct personal quotes are present in the narrative. The descriptions and police appeal statements are paraphrased rather than quoted verbatim, so no source verification for quotations is applicable. This absence slightly reduces the score as original direct quotes can enhance verification.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a regional UK news outlet, MyLondon, which is known for covering local stories but is less authoritative than national or international agencies such as BBC or Reuters. The information includes official police contact details and reference numbers, lending credibility, but the outlet's overall reliability is moderate rather than high.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims of assaults by teenage girls on trains in South London, detailed with times, locations, and police descriptions, are plausible and typical of regional crime reports. There is no extravagant or extraordinary claim that would raise suspicion. The police appeal for witnesses is consistent with standard practice following such incidents.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and specific, with detailed timing and police involvement consistent with a legitimate ongoing investigation. Although there are no direct quotes, the official details and appeals suggest authenticity. The regional outlet providing the information is moderately reliable but supported by verifiable police details. The story is plausible and verifiable through local authorities.
