Nora Mubarak, a Muslim woman in Grimsby, says she fears for her safety after a video of her rescuing a baby seagull was shared online by far-right figures who falsely accused her of catching the bird for food. The clip, which has been viewed at least 3 million times, was secretly filmed by two men in a van who later cut out the part where Nora explained she was returning the gull to its mother.
Harassment and threats
Nora told Metro: 'When I go out, people stare, and sometimes they say things. They shout I'm barbaric, that I'm a savage, that I'm a seagull eater. But even if I wear a mask, people can tell who I am. I fear for my safety, but not only me, for other women that look like me.'
The video was shared by Oliver Freeston, the Reform UK leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, with the caption 'Grimsby in 2026'. Far-right leader Tommy Robinson also shared it, writing: 'Invaders catching and killing gulls in broad daylight in “Modern England”. Get these backwards people out!' Despite community notes correcting the false claims, Robinson has not deleted his post.
The rescue incident
Nora, a prominent member of the Seagull Appreciation Society on Facebook, explained she was trying to save an infant seagull that had fallen from its rooftop nest. She wrapped it in a towel and went over to the men filming to explain she was helping the bird. That explanation was edited out of the viral video.
'I didn't want to leave him. He couldn't fly high to the top of the building. People said I should leave him but I could tell the mum was crying,' Nora said. 'On that day the man filming came out shouting in a really rude way. I didn't like it, but at that time I was focusing on calming down the bird, and I thought maybe he's just concerned. So I did explain to him afterwards. “I'm helping him. I'm worried it will be hit by a car.” They know I'm doing something good but they cut it out. They lied about me and they posted it and it went viral.'
Broader context
Nora condemned the spread of lies, saying: 'This hatred of immigrants and Muslims is distracting from the real problems in society, the billionaires, even the Government who don't care about our communities. I think racism is getting worse.'
Despite the harassment, Nora is relieved the seagull was safely reunited with its mother after a kind neighbour used a ladder to return it to the nest. 'She was very stressed. They love their babies just like us,' Nora said. 'If God created them, then they are beautiful. For me they are a national British animal – the seagull. I haven't seen them anywhere else. They are very special and they should be respected.'
