A bus driver has died in Brisbane, Australia, after a passenger threw an "item" which set him on fire, say police. Six deeply traumatised passengers escaped the smoke-filled vehicle with the help of a taxi driver who forced open the back door of the bus.
Eleven people were treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and minor injuries. Police arrested a 48-year-old man and have ruled out terrorism.
The bus driver was identified as Manmeet Alisher, also known as Manmeet Sharma, a 29-year-old man well known in Brisbane's Indian community. Friends described him as a talented singer and dancer who was engaged to be married.
"I've been confronted with many situations, but here, this is a rare one where there appears to be no apparent motive," Police Supt Jim Keogh told reporters. "A bus driver, going about doing his business, supporting the community, has had his life taken from him in what is a senseless and needless act."
A taxi driver Aguek Nyok helped passengers escape. "All the people were at the back trying to get out of the bus but they couldn't get out the front because of the flames," he told the repoters. "They couldn't open the back door so I kicked it down and they all came running out."
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said it was "a very, very sad day for the council and the wider community". Flags will be flown at half-mast across the city on Saturday as sign of respect for Mr Alisher.
A witness at the crime scene took this video of fire crews extinguishing the bus fire in Moorooka. @ABCNewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/tkNF0V1pCA
— Casey Briggs (@CaseyBriggs) October 28, 2016
Passengers 'lucky to survive'
Taxi driver Aguek Nyok was walking past the bus when the fire started and said he kicked in the bus's back door to free trapped passengers. "Unfortunately I couldn't go inside because there were fumes," he said. "It was smoky, you can't even think of going there, and the fire was getting higher and higher."
Superintendent Keogh praised the response. "He certainly jeopardised his own life for the safety of those on the bus," he said.
One witness said she helped passengers, including some young children, get off the bus. "They were lucky to survive," she said. "They were just small children, their mum was screaming”. "I was scared."
Aster Benebru, the owner of a nearby bakery, said her shop on Beaudesert Road was closed at the time of the fire, but she gave a man an extinguisher to help battle the blaze. "When I go I saw the bus burn, smoke coming out," she said.
Queensland Police say there was "no apparent motive" for the attack. ABCBrisbane Mayor Graham Quirk asked public transport users to show appreciation to drivers today, more than ever. He said the council would offer counselling to all of its bus drivers, and the council would pay tribute to Alisher.
"One thing we will be doing as an organisation tomorrow is to fly the flags of Brisbane at half mast as a mark of respect to our bus operator - it's just a very, very sad set of circumstances," he said.
He said an on board camera captured the attack. "Footage has been provided to the Queensland Police Service to assist them with their investigations at this time," he said.
"The advice that I am getting from police is that this is a random act."
Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said council's thoughts and prayers were with the driver's relatives and friends.
Alisher was also a well-known singer and entertainer in Brisbane's Indian community.
"We lost a member of the Council family — the Brisbane family — today with the senseless and inexplicable murder of one of our bus drivers," Councillor Schrinner said.
"The best thing we can do as a community at this time is to show all of our bus drivers the appreciation and respect we have for them."
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) spokesman Tom Brown said the man's colleagues were in shock.
"We've organised grief counsellors and they're at the depots now and I'm heading there ... as well to see if I can assist and there will be further counselling as well made available," he said.
A witness said there were children on the bus at the time of the attack. ABCPassenger 'absolutely beside herself'
Andrea Savage and her baby daughter were planning to catch the bus but were running late.
However, an acquaintance of hers was on the bus, with two children.
"Her youngest nearly got trampled by people trying to get off in the smoke-filled cabin, she was clutching at her little ones," she said.
"When I saw her she was just absolutely beside herself.
"This is the first time I've been thankful for running late."
State Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe told the incident would be considered in a review of bus driver safety already underway.
"This has been an issue that has been of concern [although] not with incidents such as the nature of this extraordinary and terrible one today," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"The nature of this incident will clearly be a matter that will be of great interest to that review process.
"That review process was designed to involve the Queensland Police Service, so the experiences that they've had, and Brisbane Transport, will be very important to that review."
