Full Breakdown
Bus Attack in Derry Leaves Passengers Shaken and Services Suspended
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident on Lecky Road
Around 18:25 BST on a Saturday evening, a Translink A bus travelling the Lecky Road corridor in Derry was targeted by a mob of youths. The youths threw missiles—stones and large boulders taken from a nearby work site—at the vehicle, striking the windscreen five times and breaking a further four windows. Items were also placed on the road and set alight before being extinguished. No passengers, including two children, were injured, but all on board were left “badly shaken,” according to Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Immediate Impact
The attack rendered the bus inoperable, prompting Translink to suspend the service in the Creggan area for the remainder of the evening. The driver, Tony McBride, described the scene as “scary” and said the shattered windscreen made it difficult to see the road, forcing him to drive cautiously to a safe location before contacting police. Passengers reported feeling “petrified” and “squealing” during the assault.
Official Responses
- Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney (PSNI) called the act “extremely reckless” and warned it could have resulted in serious injury. She appealed for information from anyone who witnessed the incident.
- Translink labeled the episode a “reckless act,” confirmed its cooperation with the PSNI investigation, and noted that CCTV footage would be reviewed.
- Sinn Féin councillor Patricia Logue expressed sympathy for the driver and passengers, wishing the driver a speedy recovery.
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Why It Matters
The attack disrupted a vital public-transport link for residents of the Creggan area, highlighting concerns about antisocial behaviour and safety on Northern Ireland’s road network. Community leaders emphasized that such reckless actions endanger lives and erode confidence in public services.
What’s Next
The PSNI continues to investigate and has urged anyone with information to contact police. Translink remains suspended on the affected route until further notice, while authorities assess additional security measures to protect passengers and staff.