Man charged after armed bus hijacking in County Tyrone

A 39-year-old man has been charged following the armed hijacking of a Translink Goldliner bus in County Tyrone on Saturday. The incident began shortly before 1:00 p.m. on the Beltany Road in Omagh, where a man armed with a knife commandeered the vehicle. While the suspect allowed passengers to disembark, he kept the driver on board.

A pursuit ensued along the A5 through Victoria Bridge and Sion Mills, lasting nearly 20 miles before the bus was stopped by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) specialist firearms team in the Head of the Town area of Strabane. The pursuit resulted in several collisions involving the bus, a police car, and other vehicles, causing damage to property.

The suspect faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, hijacking, aggravated vehicle taking causing injury, and possession of an offensive weapon. He is scheduled to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday. Two individuals were taken to South West Acute Hospital for treatment following the incident.