Driver threatened with knife as bus hijacked and chased in police pursuit

A man has been arrested after a hijacked bus was brought to a stop after a police chase.

The driver of the bus was threatened at knife point by a man, who then allowed passengers to leave the bus. However, the bus driver was kept on board.

Videos circulating on social media appear to show a Translink Goldliner coach being driven at speed through residential streets while being chased by a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) patrol car.

Police said the bus was hijacked in the Beltany Road area of Omagh, Co Tyrone, shortly before 13:00 BST on Saturday.

The man who hijacked the bus then made off in the direction of Newtownstewart and a pursuit ensued along the A5 through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills.The pursuit lasted nearly 20 miles.

"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," said a PSNI spokesperson.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said two people were taken to South West Acute Hospital for treatment.

The NIAS added that they had dispatched two "emergency crews to the incident" and had initially treated to two patients "at the scene".

A number of reports of collisions involving the stolen bus and other vehicles, including a police car and damage to property have been received by police, who are appealing for information.

The Fountain Street and Drumallagh areas in Strabane remain closed at this time and the public are asked to avoid the area.

Sinn Féin councillor Brian Barney Harte said a wall was damaged at the side of a house in Strabane during the pursuit.

He said people were shocked and distressed, adding that his thoughts were with those involved.

"How there has not been a fatality is only by a miracle," he said.

"Numerous cars and properties have been damaged and people have told me of near misses of pedestrians, some pushing prams."

Barney said the bus came to a stop right beside a children's play park and that a police helicopter was involved in the chase.

A spokesperson for public transport operator Translink NI said: "We can confirm an incident occurred involving a Goldliner coach travelling on the Beltany Road in Omagh this afternoon.

"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."