A bus driver was threatened at knifepoint and held captive aboard a hijacked bus that was pursued by police for nearly 20 miles across Northern Ireland before being stopped. The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. BST on Saturday when a man commandeered a Translink Goldliner coach in the Beltany Road area of Omagh, County Tyrone.
The hijacker allowed passengers to disembark but continued to hold the driver, driving the bus at high speed through residential streets. Videos shared on social media appear to show the bus being chased by a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) patrol car.
The pursuit extended along the A5, passing through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills, before the bus was stopped in the Head of the Town area of Strabane. A man in his 30s was removed from the bus and arrested.
Police reported multiple collisions involving the stolen bus, a police car, and other vehicles, as well as damage to property. One man was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries, according to a PSNI spokesperson.
Sinn Féin councillor Brian Barney Harte stated that a wall at the side of a house in Strabane was damaged during the pursuit. He described residents as shocked and distressed, noting near misses with pedestrians, some of whom were pushing prams. Barney added that the bus came to a stop beside a children's play park and that a police helicopter was involved in the chase.
Areas of Fountain Street and Drumallagh in Strabane were closed to the public as police investigated. Translink NI, the public transport operator, confirmed the incident and stated they are assisting the PSNI with their investigation, including the use of onboard CCTV footage.