An M1 MetroBus was attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning (April 9) on the Bristol Portway. Luckily there were no passengers on board and the driver escaped uninjured despite damage to the vehicle, according to the service operator HCT.
The impact shattered the passenger doors but it is believed the culprit was stood some distance away when they took aim. It is not yet clear what was used to cause the damage, but CCTV footage is currently being reviewed by Bristol Community Transport and the local authorities.
General manager for the HCT group in the South West, Jimmy Summerville, said: "This was the second incident we've had on the Portway in two months. Luckily the driver was coming back to the depot with no passengers on board as the out of service sign was on but this is not something I expected any of my staff to go through."
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There is a growing concern about vandalism across the public transport network with nine bus offences reported since January this year in areas such as Inns Court and Bradley Stoke. "I feel that someone is going to get seriously injured so we have engaged with the police and the local authorities to see what we can do to deter this," he added.
Avon and Somerset Police has been approached for comment. Late last year there were reports of rocks being thrown at buses, but HCT did not specify what method was believed to have been used this time to cause the damage.
