Men wanted over Melbourne train assault

Police have released images of two people accused of verbally abusing three Muslim women on a Melbourne train and physically assaulting another man who came to their defence.

Investigators say the women boarded the Craigieburn-bound train at Melbourne Central on May 15 and sat near two men who racially abused them.

A fellow passenger, Jason Cias, spoke to the two men about their behaviour and was assaulted.

Police want help identifying the two men who assaulted Mr Cias. They also want to speak to a third man who tried to break up the assault.

Mr Cias says he spoke to the two men after one of them yelled "I'll ****ing smash you" at the women after they got off the train.

"I said to the guy: 'mate, they're women.' The implication there was you don't threaten people, particularly women," he told The Age.

Mr Cias was treated for minor facial injuries after the assault, which he reported to police after getting off at Kensington station.