Driver and children 'petrified' in bus attack

A bus driver has described an attack on his vehicle by masked youths as "scary", leaving children on board "petrified and squealing".

Tony McBride spoke out after the Translink bus was attacked a number of times by missiles in the Lecky Road area of Londonderry on Saturday at about 18:25 BST.

He said two children and elderly people were on board and, although not injured, were left shaken.

"Damage was caused to five windows, including the front window of the bus following the incident, Ch Supt Gillian Kearney from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

"About 20 youths were waiting for me," McBride told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. "They ran towards the bus firing missiles and huge boulders taken from a work site nearby.

"My windscreen was hit five times then the door and other windows.

"People were covered in glass. It was a shocking site and the children and elderly were petrified."

The driver said he tried to escape but it was difficult to see the road in front of him because of the broken windscreen.

"I was also worried I was going to hit one of them as my windscreen was smashed to bits," he said.

"The ordeal has affected me because the two children who were squealing. A gentleman also shouted 'get down, get down'. It was scary.

"At one point I thought I was going to get hijacked and all I could think of was the passengers."

He then drove the bus to Fanad Drive and up Creggan Road where he and another passenger called the police.

He said the young people who carried out the attack need to "stop and think".

"The parents also need to stop them before someone gets hurt.

"I also found it upsetting to hear the youths laugh in social media videos that are going around."

McBride said he has been receiving support from his family and his employer and that he will return to work on Monday.

"I believe in supporting workers," he said. "I'll not be deterred and I'll also speak to management to see what more can be done around antisocial behaviour in this city."

A spokesperson for Translink described the incident as "reckless".

A number of items were also set alight in the area for a short period of time on Saturday evening.

Ch Supt Kearney described the attack as "extremely reckless" and said it could have resulted in serious injury.

"This was an attack on the local community and should be condemned by all across the city."

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan described the incident as "despicable moronic behaviour".

Sinn Féin councillor Patricia Logue said: "My thoughts are with the driver and I hope he has a speedy recovery."