Omagh: Man in his 30s charged to court after bus is hijacked at knifepoint and is pursued by the police
Police say they have charged a 39-year-old man to court for a number of offences after a bus was hijacked in Co Tyrone.
The 39-year-old has been charged with a number of offences including kidnapping, hijacking, aggravated vehicle taking causing injury and possession of an offensive weapon.
He is expected to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday 14th September.
It comes after the PSNI said they received a report that a bus had been hijacked in the Beltany Road area of Omagh on Saturday (September 12).
They added that the man, who was believed to be armed with a knife, allowed the passengers to leave the bus, however he kept the driver on board before making off in the direction of Newtownstewart.
From there, a pursuit ensued along the A5 through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills, before the bus was finally stopped in the Head of the Town area of Strabane.
It was there that a man aged in his 30s was removed from the bus and subsequently arrested.
He remains in police custody at this time.
One man was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries.
A number of reports of collisions involving the stolen bus and other vehicles, including a police car and damage to property have been received at this time.
The PSNI are appealing to anyone involved in a collision or to anyone with footage that could assist with enquiries to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 624 12/09/26.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
A Translink spokesperson said: “We can confirm an incident occurred involving a Goldliner coach travelling on the Beltany Road in Omagh.
“We are assisting the PSNI with their investigation including use of onboard CCTV and would ask anyone with information relating to the incident to contact the police.”
Sinn Fein councillor Brian Barney Harte says only “a miracle” prevented a fatality from potentially happening.
"People are understandably shocked and distressed at the reckless behaviour of the individual involved,” he wrote on Facebook.
“I spoke to the driver who understandably has been pretty shook up by the entire ordeal.
“From what I heard he was able to tell him to slow down at points along the way, which may have prevented a major incident.
“My thoughts are with the passengers and driver, who have come through a terrifying experience.
"How there has not been a fatality is only by a miracle.
“Numerous cars and properties have been damaged and people have told me of near misses of pedestrians, some pushing prams.
“The bus came to a stop right beside a children's play park.”
Meanwhile, local Alliance councillor Stephen Donnelly said he was “deeply alarmed” by the bus hijacking.
In a statement on social media, he said: “I am deeply alarmed by confirmation that the hijacking of a bus took place in the Beltany Road area of Omagh, which has resulted in injury, a number of collisions, damage to property and serious risk to life.
“My thoughts are with the passengers and bus driver targeted in this outrageous incident."