In the aftermath of Khalid Masood's attack at London's Westminster Bridge on Wednesday, a Muslim woman was photographed in front of a group of people treating an injured person.
Many people soon condemned the woman when the picture was widely circulated on social media. Critics believed the image showed her indifferently walking past the horrific scene.
But she has now spoken out, slamming online trolls for hateful and xenophobic comments.
"I'm shocked and totally dismayed at how a picture of me is being circulated on social media," she told tellmamauk.org - a UK Muslim support group.
"I would like to say not only have I been devastated by witnessing the aftermath of a shocking and numbing terror attack, I've also had to deal with the shock of finding my picture plastered all over social media by those who could not look beyond my attire, who draw conclusions based on hate and xenophobia.
"My thoughts at that moment were one of sadness, fear and concern."
What the image didn't show were her efforts to help at the scene, she said.
She also thanked Jamie Lorriman, the photographer who took the picture, for speaking to the media in her defence.
"My thoughts go out to all the victims and their families."
Mr Lorriman told The Daily Mail: "I saw dozens of people walk past and the woman on the phone had just come from the part of the bridge where most of the victims were struck.
"That is why she clearly looks mortified and it is obvious that she is in shock. The woman would have seen people under buses; she had just walked past the worst of it."
Newshub.
