Two Muslim women who were driving through Newcastle have been verbally abused by a 27-year-old man.
A 26-year-old woman, who was wearing a veil, was driving on Smith Street with her mother when the man allegedly approached the car on Monday night, police said.
"He's made derogatory statements about their religion," Chief Inspector Dean Olsen told ABC on Tuesday.
"He struck the side view mirror and then continued with a verbal tirade."
The woman was able to drive on a short distance but the man allegedly followed and continued the verbal abuse.
A number of people intervened but police say the 27-year-old punched one of them and stole a mobile phone before fleeing.
Police arrested the man and charged him with several counts of intimidation and larceny, along with assault and malicious damage.
He spent the night behind bars and will appear in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.
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