Man arrested after bus hijacked and chased in police pursuit

Police have appealed for information following the bus hijacking (Niall Carson/PA)

A man has been arrested following the hijacking of a bus in Co Tyrone.

The passengers were allowed to leave the bus but the driver was kept on board while it was pursued during the incident which began in Omagh on Saturday.

Police said they received a number of reports of collisions involving the stolen bus.

Shortly before 1pm, police received a report that a bus had been hijacked in the Beltany Road area of Omagh.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The man, believed to be armed with a knife, allowed the passengers to leave the bus, however, kept the driver on board before making off in the direction of Newtownstewart.

“A pursuit ensued along the A5 through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills.

“The bus was eventually stopped in the Head of the Town area of Strabane and the man, aged in his 30s, was removed from the bus and subsequently arrested.”

The suspect remains in police custody.

One man has been taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries.

The spokesperson added: “The Fountain Street and Drumrallagh areas in Strabane remain closed at this time and the public are asked to avoid the area.

“A number of reports of collisions involving the stolen bus and other vehicles, including a police car and damage to property have been received at this time and officers are appealing to anyone involved in a collision or to anyone with footage that could assist with inquiries to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 624 12/09/26.”