london
—
British police have appealed for information to speak to two people following an incident of “racial aggravation” in central London.
British Transport Police on Monday released a photo of a person wanted for questioning in connection with the incident. CNN identified the couple in the photo as MAGA influencer Melissa Lane Lively and her investor partner Philip Osterman.
Police have not said whether they believe the couple was involved in the incident.
According to police, the incident occurred at 7:30pm local time on October 11 at Bond Street Underground station in the heart of London’s shopping district.
Police said in a statement that the woman was racially abused and assaulted as she tried to enter the station with her family.
Police said: “The victim was entering Bond Street tube station with her sister and two young children, one of whom was in a stroller. A man and a woman were walking in front of them together when the woman collided with the stroller.”
“The man then began shouting racial abuse at the victim and her family, before the woman grabbed her by the hair. When the victim tried to defend herself, the man pulled out a vial, claimed it was pepper spray, and sprayed it at the victim and her family. The woman yelled profanities and made lewd gestures towards the victim and her family before both men left the scene,” police said.
The use of pepper spray is illegal in the UK.
Police said: “Officers believe the man and woman in the images may have information that could assist the investigation.”
Layne Lively is a pro-Trump influencer and head of America First PR, an Arizona-based company that Lively describes as “anti-woke,” and Osterman is a German businessman involved in private equity.
CNN has reached out to Layne Lively and Osterman. Layne Lively did not respond to CNN’s questions for comment, but sent out an unrelated press release. Mr. Osterman did not respond.
Rein Lively’s account on X has been temporarily disabled. Her company’s website details plans to launch a transatlantic “sister agency” “in line with our mission to protect and promote common Western values, which we call ‘Europe First PR.'”
Layne Lively is a well-known figure in conservative circles who campaigned for the White House press secretary position last year, posting images of herself at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, the epicenter of the presidential transition, and speaking about her candidacy for the job in right-wing news organizations.
But she is also known for an incident inside a Target store in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
In July 2020, a video of her destroying a display of masks at a retail store went viral, leading online commentators to dub her the “QAnon Karen.”
In a subsequent interview, former QAnon believer Layne Lively denounced her actions and her involvement in the group, which she later called a “cult.”
Ostermann, an associate director at a Munich-based private equity firm, was scheduled to speak at the Private Equity Conference in London on October 14th. He is no longer on the online schedule.
His bio no longer appears on the company’s website and his LinkedIn account has been deleted.
