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A man has been taken into custody following a police pursuit that ended after a bus was hijacked and subsequently stopped. The incident began when the bus driver was threatened at knifepoint by the individual, who then allowed the passengers to exit the vehicle. Despite this, the driver was forced to remain on board.
Footage shared across social media platforms showed a Translink Goldliner coach speeding through residential neighborhoods while being followed by a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) patrol car. The hijacking took place near Beltany Road in Omagh, County Tyrone, just before 1:00 p.m. BST on Saturday.
The suspect drove the bus toward Newtownstewart, prompting a police chase that spanned nearly 20 miles along the A5 route through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills. “The bus was eventually stopped in the Head of the Town area of Strabane and a man, aged in his 30s was removed from the bus and subsequently arrested,” a spokesperson from PSNI reported. Authorities also confirmed that one individual was transported to the hospital for treatment following injuries sustained during the event.
Reports have emerged of several collisions involving the stolen bus, including impacts with other vehicles and property damage, one involving a police car. Residents have been advised to avoid the Fountain Street and Drumallagh areas of Strabane, which remain closed while investigations continue. Sinn Féin councillor Brian Barney Harte described the community reaction, noting that a wall beside a house was damaged during the chase and people were left shaken. “How there has not been a fatality is only by a miracle,” he said. Harte further highlighted that motorists and property had suffered damage, and shared concerns about near-misses involving pedestrians, some with prams. He also mentioned that the chase concluded near a children’s playground and that a police helicopter was participating in the pursuit.
Public transport operator Translink NI confirmed the occurrence of the incident involving their Goldliner coach on Beltany Road and stated their cooperation with the PSNI investigation, including providing CCTV footage from the bus. They have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist police in their inquiries
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