A 64-year-old bus driver is in critical condition in hospital after being seriously assaulted on one of London's busiest bridges. The Metropolitan Police reported that the driver was attacked following a confrontation on the pavement while his bus was parked at a stop shortly before 12:30 am on Monday. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance after receiving first aid from police officers who responded to the incident on Battersea Bridge.
Arrest Made
A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Detective Superintendent Fiona Van Kampen stated: 'We recognise the intense concern this will cause within the local community, and are working to establish the exact circumstances of the attack. This took place on one of London's busiest bridges, so we are urgently appealing for anyone with information to come forward. If you have dash-cam or mobile phone footage of what happened, it is important that we see it. Our thoughts remain with the victim's family as enquiries continue.'
Abuse Against Bus Drivers
During last year's London Tube strikes, it was found that bus drivers were bearing the brunt of abuse directed at transport workers in the capital. Reports of physical and verbal abuse increased during the four days of strikes in September. One driver told Metro: 'When I told people the bus is too full, or the journey had been diverted, they punched the protective screen or spat at me. The strikes are such an intense time for everyone, but we bear the brunt of it. We are essentially the customer service of TfL. People see us, and they take out whatever issues they have. It is the exact same every time there are strikes.'
TfL Response
Rosie Trew, TfL's Head of Bus Service Delivery, said at the time: 'Bus drivers work hard to serve the millions of customers who use the transport network every day and continue to play a vital role in enabling Londoners to travel. They have the right to go about their work without fear or intimidation, and we do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them. We are committed to ensuring that all staff have breaks and access to the facilities they need to carry out their roles effectively at all times, including during busy periods on the network.'
The police continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward.
