Man charged after bus driver thrown from vehicle in Telford
The bus went on to hit a number of cars before stopping
A man has been charged after a bus driver was assaulted and thrown from his vehicle in Telford.
Ali Balhad, who is 33, has been charged with a string of offences following the incident in Madeley on Friday 18th September.
He faces charges of aggravated vehicle taking, assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, robbery, theft from a store and threats to kill.
He has also been charged with three counts of criminal damage.
Balhad, a Yemeni national, is believed to have been in the Telford area for around a week.
He has been remanded in custody and was due to appear before Telford Magistrates' Court on Monday 21st September.
West Mercia Police said officers were called to reports of an assault involving a bus driver on Court Street in Madeley at 6.37pm on Friday.
The force said the driver was ejected from the vehicle before the bus was driven along Park Way towards the High Street, where it hit a number of vehicles before coming to a stop.
Officers said a 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene within 10 minutes of the first call, with armed officers deploying from Malinsgate Police Station.
The bus driver did not suffer serious injuries and was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
Superintendent Edward Hancox, for local policing in Telford, said: "We understand how concerning this incident will have been for people in Madeley and the wider Telford community, and I want to reassure people that our enquiries are very much ongoing.
"Thankfully, the bus driver did not suffer serious injuries, and I'd like to thank those members of the public who came to the driver's aid and offered their help and support following what was understandably a distressing incident. The care and concern shown by the community has been greatly appreciated."
Officers have asked anyone with footage or information who hasn't yet spoken to them to get in touch.