City bus arsonists still being hunted week after double-decker torched
Arsonists who torched a double-decker bus continue to be hunted a week on from the blaze. Police said inquiries are ongoing but no arrests have yet been made.
Footage captured by eyewitnesses showed the National Express West Midlands bus engulfed in flames on Soho Road, Handsworth[1], last Wednesday, May 24. The fire on the top deck happened as the bus had stopped between Rookery Road and Alfred Road.
West Midlands Police[2] said thankfully no-one was injured. Police cordoned off the scene just before 7.30pm, while firefighters from West Midlands Fire Service[3] extinguished the blaze using hose reel water jets.
In an update today, May 31, a police spokesman told BirminghamLive: "No-one has yet been arrested. Inquiries continue."
A restaurant manager had described how panicked passengers fled a bus screaming 'fire'[5]. Gaganpreet Singh was serving customers in his shop Pure Veg when he noticed a commotion outside and flames engulfing the vehicle.
He described around 15 people running off the bus shouting.Police then cordoned off the road as firefighters tackled the enferno.
Mr Singh, 31, told BirminghamLive: "It was shocking - we were all really worried. It was about 7.20pm and I saw people rushing out of the bus. First I saw five or six then about five or 10 people came out.
The wreckage of the bus following the arson attack on Soho Road (Image: Jack Hopcroft)
"Around two or three were screaming 'It's a fire, fire' as they were getting off the bus. I got out of my shop and I saw the fire was at the top deck and back of the bus. It was small initially and got bigger and bigger.
"I heard little bursts with the seats. Everyone was out of the bus and safe, no one was near it. We got the shutters half down and my staff called 999 but they already knew. The fire brigade came quickly and they put it out. Half the bus was on fire together with a street light."
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References
- ^ Handsworth (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Fire Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Moment flames engulf double-decker bus after arson attack on Soho Road (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ passengers fled a bus screaming 'fire' (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham News (data.reachplc.com)
- ^ Email Updates (data.reachplc.com)