German police say a Muslim woman wearing a veil covering her entire face and body was attacked and verbally abused inside a Berlin store.

Police said Tuesday a 28-year-old woman insulted the victim and ripped the veil of the burqa from her head.

The attacker then followed the 54-year-old victim out of the store and continued shouting anti-foreigner abuse at her before being detained by police. Police gave no more details of the incident.

Last year the German Parliament approved a government proposal to ban the wearing of all veils that fully cover the face by public employees in schools, courts and other institutions.

Anti-Islam groups have called for a total ban on the wearing of all full-face veils in Germany.