A festivalgoer said he was attacked in the middle of Sefton Park in front of children.
Faris Khalifa, 33, was at Africa Oyé with friends when he said a man approached him and started "screaming his face off", spitting at him and "swearing in front of children". Faris, who was worried the man, who he said he knows, would physically attack him, told the ECHO: "It was just bizarre because it was right in the centre of a festival in front of a lot of people and children. It happened so fast, he came out of nowhere."
Faris, 33, and his friends left after the encounter because "the mood was dead after that". The festival, now in its 30th year, was running for the first time since 2019, and it was Faris' first time attending in five years. He said: "Despite [the verbal abuse], we had a good time, it was amazing. But we didn't stay for a single minute [after that], just because of fear, just because the whole thing was ruined for us."
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The mental health advocate came to the UK from Sudan as a child refugee and suffers from nerve damage, chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said the encounter worsened his PTSD symptoms, telling the ECHO: "Only after looking at the effects a few days later, I can see the damage. I don't leave the house often due to my disability and even when I do, I never get into confrontations of this nature. I'm not sure if I wish it didn't happen so I wouldn't feel this way, or if I'm glad it did because it raised a valid and serious concern."
He reported it to police the following day. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We are appealing for information after a man reported he was verbally abused by another man while attending Africa Oyé in Sefton Park on Sunday, June 19. It was reported on Monday, June 20 that a man in his 30s had been verbally abused while attending the music festival at around 7.45pm on Saturday.
"If you witnessed the incident or have any information, you can direct message Merseyside Police via @MerPolCC, or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, with reference 22000428923. You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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