Man charged after hijacking Arriva bus and driving it into multiple vehicles following attack on driver in Shropshire town.
A Sikh bus driver was assaulted and thrown from his vehicle in Telford before the stolen single-decker bus was driven into several cars, police have confirmed.
The incident took place on Friday evening in the Madeley area of the Shropshire town. West Mercia Police said officers were called to Court Street at around 6.37pm following reports that the driver of an Arriva bus had been attacked.
Man Charged After Bus Assault and Crash in Telford:
According to police, the driver was ejected from the vehicle during the assault. The suspect then took control of the bus, drove it along Park Way towards the High Street on the wrong side of the road, and collided with multiple parked cars.
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the confrontation inside the bus, with the attacker grabbing and pulling the driver’s beard, headbutting him, and removing the ticket machine. Passengers can be heard shouting for the man to stop and urging others to call the police. The driver was treated by paramedics for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. Armed officers responded quickly and stopped the bus. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of robbery and dangerous driving.
Police later charged 33-year-old Ali Balhad, a Yemeni national believed to have been in the Telford area for about a week, with a series of offences. These include aggravated vehicle taking, assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, theft from a store, threats to kill, and three counts of criminal damage.
Sikh Bus Driver Assault Sparks Community Concern in Telford:
Balhad has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Detective Sergeant Taigh Lannie of West Mercia Police said: “We understand this will have been an alarming incident for those in the area this evening. I’d like to reassure the community that officers responded quickly and a man has been arrested and remains in police custody.”
Arriva, the bus operator, said it was supporting the driver and assisting police with their inquiries. The attack on the Sikh driver, whose religious identity includes the wearing of a turban and uncut beard as articles of faith, has drawn attention within British Asian and Sikh communities. Local reports described the assault as unprovoked, with the driver remaining calm and asking for police assistance during the confrontation. Police have appealed for witnesses and any additional CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage of the incident to be shared with them.