Sikh bus driver attacked, bus hijacked in UK; driverless vehicle rams cars
A Sikh bus driver was assaulted, and his vehicle hijacked in Telford, England, on Friday evening, after which the accused allegedly drove the bus on the wrong side of the road and crashed into several vehicles.
The incident took place at around 6:30 pm on September 18 in Court Street, Madeley, and was captured on camera.
On camera: Sikh driver attacked
Footage from the incident shows the accused, identified as 33-year-old Yemeni national Ali Balhad, allegedly grabbing the Sikh driver's beard and banging his head against the driver's head.
Violent man STEALS BUS after beating Sikh driver pic.twitter.com/omB0BmOFr2
— RTVisual (@RT_Visual_on_X) September 19, 2026
A woman filming the incident can be heard asking, "Why are you touching him like that?"
The driver then appeals to her for help, saying, "Can you call the police please?"
"Just take this guy away from me," he adds.
The accused allegedly continued assaulting the driver before damaging parts of the bus and demanding that he hand over the vehicle.
At one point, Balhad appears to remove an object from the driver's cabin and threaten the driver with it.
Driver thrown out, bus rams vehicles
The assault continued for more than a minute before the accused allegedly forced the driver out of the bus and took control of the vehicle.
West Mercia Police said the bus was then driven along Park Way towards the High Street "on the wrong side of the road", colliding with multiple vehicles.
Video footage shows a woman running behind the bus while repeatedly shouting for people to move out of its way.
Police arrest accused within 10 minutes
Police received the first call at around 6:37 pm and officers were dispatched to Court Street.
The bus was eventually stopped and officers arrested a man on suspicion of robbery and dangerous driving.
Superintendent Edward Hancox, of West Mercia Police, said officers, including armed personnel from Malinsgate Police Station, reached the scene and made the arrest within 10 minutes of the first call, NDTV reported.
The bus driver was treated for minor injuries. Police said no one else was injured.
Accused faces multiple charges
Balhad, who police said had been in the Telford area for about a week, has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking, assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, robbery, theft from a store, threats to kill and three counts of criminal damage.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Telford Magistrates' Court on September 21.
Police seek CCTV, dashcam footage
West Mercia Police have appealed to witnesses and residents who may have footage of the incident.
Investigators are particularly seeking dashcam, CCTV, mobile phone and doorbell recordings from Court Street, Park Way and High Street around the time of the incident.
Police said such footage could assist their investigation into the assault, vehicle theft and subsequent dangerous driving.
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