A man who threatened a bus driver and passengers with “acid” was arrested as police using Tasers stormed the bus following a three-hour stand-off in Thornton Heath last night. According to the police, no one was harmed in the incident.
Chemical caution: police, fire crews and ambulance attended the scene of the hold up on a 109 bus parked on London Road, Thornton Heath
With public anxieties across London raised following the chemical attack in Clapham last month, the stand-off on the 109 bus saw police officers deployed in chemical suits and ultimately using Tasers as, just before midnight, they stormed the bus parked on London Road.
The man, who police said may have consumed drugs, was taken to hospital for medical evaluations. According to eyewitnesses, the man boarded the bus in Brixton and began smoking.
When confronted by other passengers, the man is said to have threatened them with a bottle of what he claimed was a corrosive substance.
After his arrest, the contents of the bottle were found not to be harmful.
Dozens of officers, including the force’s Territorial Support Group, firefighters and ambulance workers attended the scene.
In a statement issued by Scotland Yard, the Met said: “Police responded to calls to London Road, Thornton Heath shortly after 8.30pm last night.
“A man 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.”
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
