Man 'threatening bus passengers with unknown substance’ arrested after stand-off

12 February 2024 , 10:51

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The man was held behind a blue cover (Image: UKNIP)

A man reportedly threatened bus passengers in London with an “unknown substance” before being arrested by police.

After a tense stand-off while the 44-year-old refused to leave the 109 bus running between Brixton and Croydon, police stormed the vehicle.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on London Road in Thornton Heath after 10.30pm last night. The Met Police’s Territorial Support Group dressed in blue chemical suits were among those who attended the incident.

Footage shared on social media show a large police presence with several vans with dozens of officers, firefighters and ambulance workers, while four double deckers were parked on the road that had to be closed off.

Passengers had fled the double decker bus after the threats were made but there were no injuries and no hostages were taken despite reports of this online. Police later found that the substance was not harmful.

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Police at the scene (UKNIP)

Images show police dressing the man in an orange jumpsuit while he they protected him from view to the public by a large blue cover. The person was then strapped to a gurney and taken away to hospital where he is being medically evaluated. Police tweeted: “A man was arrested last night by Met officers responding to an incident on a bus in #Croydon. The man had made threats but contrary to media reports nobody was taken hostage."

Police stormed the bus (UKNIP)

The man was arrested for affray after having been tasered and police believe he "had taken drugs". And a further statement from the Met Police read: “Police responded to calls to London Road, Thornton Heath, shortly after 10.30pm last night. A man had threatened bus passengers with an unknown substance. Nobody was held hostage. The man made threats and everyone else on the bus immediately got off. The substance was not thrown.

“Shortly before midnight, the 44-year-old man was arrested for affray. The substance was found not to be harmful. Taser was discharged prior to his arrest and officers believe the man had taken drugs. As a precaution, he was taken to hospital. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.”

Tim Hanlon