‘Fucking n****r’: Northumbria fresher shouts racial abuse at black students

A group of black Newcastle students were hurled racial abuse at Manor Bank halls, with one being called a "fucking n****r".

The incident, which happened on Wednesday, involved a group of students leaning out of an accommodation window and shouting abuse down to a group of black students who were on their way to a night out.

In a video, an unseen man can be heard to shout "fucking n****r".

Shortly afterwards a girl, identified on Instagram as Ellena Robinson, shouts "you're not from here", "you don't belong here" and "fuck off".

In an Instagram message between Ellena and another Newcastle student, Ellena responded: "I take full responsibility for my actions because I do not agree with them at all. I am not a racist person and I never have been."

In a separate video obtained by The Newcastle Tab, the black students can be seen outside shouting up to the flat. The person filming the video says the group threw an egg at the boys.

It is unclear from the video how many people were involved, however two girls and a boy have been identified on social media as those shouting abuse or present. The Newcastle Tab believe two of them attend Northumbria University after searching the university's email database, however The Newcastle Tab is yet to confirm where one of the girls studies.

Since the video started circulating on Instagram, many students have been sharing the video and calling out those involved.

Yasmyn Ntega, a second year student, spoke to Ellena on Instagram message after Yas uploaded the video to her Instagram story.

In screenshots obtained by The Newcastle Tab, Ellena repeatedly apologises, saying: "I understand this video is awful! I agree completely it is disgusting, at the time I was not thinking as I was drunk but I know that is far from any excuse…I take full responsibility for my actions because I do not agree with them at all.

"I am not a racist person and I never have been, I have several black friends who I love and I would never intentionally disrespect them in any way, I do not know what came over me in the slightest I am extremely disgusted with myself, just as my friends are with themselves too.

"I would just like to apologise from the bottom of my heart the last thing I would ever want is too offence anybody and have so little respect for them."

Ellena goes on to explain the events leading up to someone saying "fucking n****" was due to someone in her group throwing an egg at the black students. Ellena said: "One of my friends was at the window having a cigarette and saw a couple of people and he said quickly pass me an egg".

She then claims that after an egg hit one of the students walking past, they came up to the flat. It was after the students inside the flat had asked them to leave them alone that they started to verbally abuse them as they were walking away.

Northumbria University has responded to reports of the incident on Twitter and has said that they are investigating.

Unite Students told The Newcastle Tab: "Unite Students works hard to provide a safe and secure home for all students while they live with us. As such we will not tolerate hate incidents or threatening behaviour towards our students or employees and take these incidents extremely seriously.

"We are aware of reports of an incident at our Manor Bank property in Newcastle and our teams are currently investigating this. We would urge anyone with information on this incident to inform the police immediately."

We also approached Chris Wilkinson, the Racial Equality Officer at Newcastle University, who told The Newcastle Tab: "I am taken aback by this astonishing display of racism and intolerance. While this kind of behaviour might be expected from some on the fringes of society, the fact that this took place on student accommodation between students somehow makes this whole incident more appalling.

"That is why even though this incident took place off campus, I will push hard in bringing this to the attention of the university and union so that appropriate measures can be taken.

"If any good thing can come from this it is that it has shown how present and underlying racism still is today, and I would encourage everyone to attend the Stand Up to Racism conference on Saturday so that we can find out how to properly challenge these views and to stop incidents like this from ever happening."

The Newcastle Tab have approached Newcastle University and Northumbria University for comment. The Newcastle Tab is also working to confirm those who were the culprits and the victims and contact them.

Were you at Manor Bank? Do you have any more information? Get in touch via Instagram or email on [email protected].