Bus window shattered and driver injured in missile attack

A bus driver was injured after a teenager threw an object at a bus shattering a front window in Edinburgh.

The number 49 service was travelling from Fort Kinnaird toward Cameron Toll through Niddrie, on Tuesday around 8pm, when a missile collided with the front offside cabin window destroying it and injuring the driver.

The suspect is described as a male, aged 14 to 16 years old, 5ft 6 ins tall, and wearing a dark coloured hooded top and lighter jogging bottoms.

The teen was with another boy and a girl on Niddrie Mains Road at the time of the offence.

Edinburgh police have launched an operation after an increase in antisocial behaviour on and around buses in the area.

Officers are working with Lothian Buses after vehicles were damaged in a number of incidents.

Chief inspector Murray Tait of Leith Police Station said: “We are appealing to the public to assist us with our enquiries into this incident.

“Thankfully the bus driver wasn’t more severely injured, however the outcome could have been far more serious.

“We are reviewing CCTV footage and exploring all avenues to identify the group of youths, and would also ask that anyone who might have been driving in the area at that time recording via dash-cam to contact us.

“We’re experiencing escalating issues across Edinburgh with buses being targeted by youths and this incident illustrates how serious the consequences of their actions can be.

“Bus Drivers and staff provide a crucial public service, particularly just now, and for them to be targeted in this way is unacceptable.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting incident number 3102 of March 2.

Alternatively, any information about the incident can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.