Bus drivers threaten to withdraw services over recent attacks

BUS drivers are threatening to put the brakes on services in Belfast over a spate of attacks.

They are furious after a passenger and one of their colleagues were injured on Wednesday.

A Metro bus driver was robbed in the Glencairn area, north Belfast.

Another received a hand injury when his vehicle was struck by a stolen car on the Suffolk Road, west Belfast.

The Unite union has called on community leaders to help tackle the problem.

Unite spokesman Michael Dornan said: “Our members are outraged at these latest attacks on our colleagues who were out providing a service for the communities they were attacked in.

“A driver was robbed at knifepoint in the Glencairn area of the city while a second driver received a serious hand injury when his bus was rammed by a joy rider in the Suffolk Road area,” he said.

Mr Dornan called on community leaders to help identify those who carried out these attacks and to give their names to the appropriate authorities.

“If the community leaders from those areas cannot provide us with assurances of our safety while serving the people of that community, then we will pull back from that area or any area that cannot control this needless anti-social behaviour.”

Bus owners Translink confirmed that two separate incidents had occurred on Wednesday.

“At around 8.45pm, the Glencairn Metro service was robbed by a hooded individual armed with a knife in the Forthriver Road area of north Belfast.

“No-one was injured and the police were called to the scene. A small amount of cash was stolen,” the spokesman said.

“At 8.55pm, a road traffic collision occurred involving a stolen car which hit a Metro bus in the Suffolk Road area of west Belfast. The car fled the scene. Emergency services were called and the bus driver and one passenger were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

“We strongly condemn all acts of violence and anti-social behaviour towards our employees and passengers. CCTV is in operation on board our services and we are assisting the police with their investigation.

“For safety reasons, large amounts of cash are never carried on board Translink bus services and we would encourage anyone with information relating to both criminal incidents to contact the police.”

Police said a blue car believed to have been involved in the collision incident was recovered after being dumped by two men and a woman at Falcarragh Drive, west Belfast.