A tense standoff unfolded this evening on London Road in Croydon after a man, reported to be in his late 30s, took a bus driver and passengers hostage using a corrosive substance. The incident began in Brixton when the man boarded the bus and subsequently started smoking, leading to chaos after being confronted by passengers.
The situation escalated rapidly when, upon being asked to stop smoking, the man produced a large bottle of what has been described as a corrosive substance. Witnesses on the bus described the scene as chaotic, with fear and confusion spreading quickly among the passengers and driver.
Emergency services, including officers in specialized blue chemical suits, the London Fire Brigade, and the London Ambulance Service, were promptly dispatched to the scene on London Road. The area from Brigstock Road down to Thornton Heath Bus Garage has been cordoned off as negotiations and efforts to safely resolve the situation continue.
In a fortunate turn of events, the passengers and the bus driver were released from the bus. However, the standoff between the police and the man persists, with the assailant refusing to vacate the bus.
The Metropolitan Police’s Territorial Support Group (TSG) officers, alongside other response teams, have been seen preparing to engage, equipped with riot shields and specialist equipment to handle the threat posed by the chemical substance.
The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement urging the public to avoid the area, asking pedestrians and drivers to seek alternative routes. The safety perimeter established by the police is part of a broader effort to contain the situation and prevent any harm to the public.
As the standoff continues into the night, the focus of the emergency services remains on securing a peaceful resolution and ensuring the safety of all involved, including the man at the centre of the crisis. The motivations behind the man’s actions are still unclear, and investigators are on standby to probe deeper once the immediate threat is neutralized.
This incident has caused significant disruption in Croydon, and local authorities are working diligently to manage the situation.
A Spokesman for the Met Police said:
There is currently a police presence in London Road, Thornton Heath.
We were called to the location shortly after 8.30pm to reports of a man threatening bus passengers with an unknown substance.
The substance has not been thrown at anyone and nobody is injured.
All passengers and the driver have left the bus.
The man remains on the bus and a police cordon is in place.
