Newtownards: Bus hijacked by masked men and set on fire
- Published
The hijackers have harmed their own community, says Nichola Mallon
A bus has been set on fire after being hijacked by armed, masked men in Newtownards, County Down.
The hijacking happened in Abbot Drive at about 06:30 GMT on Monday.
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said it is understood the two masked men "muttered something about the protocol" during the attack.
Monday is the deadline previously set by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for progress on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In September, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson threatened to collapse Stormont "within weeks" if its demands over the Northern Ireland Protocol were not met.
But, following the attack in Newtownards, Sir Jeffrey said that progress has been made since then, "secured through political action and not violence".
He said that "those engaging in thuggery only undermine these efforts and cement the protocol more firmly in place".
Driver 'badly shaken'
The 7a bus was making its first stop at Bowtown Estate in Newtownards when two armed and masked men boarded the vehicle, according to Translink's chief executive Chris Conway.
"There were no passengers on board when this disgraceful attack occurred, however our driver is badly shaken and is currently being supported by colleagues," he said.
He described it as "an intimidating attack on our member of staff and public transport services in the area".
"We utterly condemn this behaviour and will be working closely with the PSNI to investigate this incident."
A nearby bus shelter was also damaged in the attack
All bus services in the area have been temporarily suspended, but Mr Conway said Translink was "currently working with the community and the PSNI to reinstate public transport services to the Bowtown Estate as soon as possible".
The infrastructure minister said it is the third attack on public transport in recent months and urged those involved to "wise up".
"You've done nothing in terms of the protocol,"Ms Mallon told BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show.
"All you have done is threaten and intimidate and terrify a bus driver who is a father, a brother, and deprived your own community of a critical bus service."
Sir Jeffrey said that "the EU have agreed to table fresh proposals and serious negotiations have re-opened with the UK government" since he made his threat to collapse Northern Ireland's devolved government.
"Our focus should be on restoring Northern Ireland's place fully within the UK internal market," he said.
"If the EU refuses to agree to the restoration of Northern Ireland's constitutional and economic integrity then it will fall to the UK government to meet its commitment in the NDNA agreement, external to do so through UK legislation.
"That is the roadmap to securing removal of the Irish Sea border."
The protocol is the special Brexit deal which prevents a hard Irish border by keeping Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.
That also creates a new trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, something the EU accepts is causing difficulties for many businesses.
Unionist politicians say the arrangement undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the hijackers poured fuel over the bus before setting it alight.
Ch Insp Trevor Atkinson described it as an "appalling incident" and a "reckless and futile act of destruction".
"Alongside our criminal investigation, we will be stepping up our visible neighbourhood policing presence in this area in the coming days.
"This is to provide reassurance to the local community," he said.
The PSNI said it was aware of speculation that the motivation for the attack was linked to the Northern Ireland Protocol, but they said their investigation was a at a very early stage and "all avenues of enquiry remain open at this time".
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said they received a report of a bus on fire at 06:36 GMT.
Three fire appliances went to the scene, where they stayed for about an hour.
NIFRS said they believed the fire was deliberate and have passed the scene over to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
A tangled metal wreck
BBC News NI's Kevin Sharkey at the scene
The bus has been destroyed, a tangled metal wreck.
The bus stop alongside it is also badly damaged, the strong plastic screening twisted by the heat of the blaze.
More than three hours after the arson attack, small pockets of smoke are still coming from the base of the bus.
The police have been here since early this morning and forensic teams are now beginning their investigations.
Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong told the BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show that the "shameful" scene is close to two primary schools.
She said it is "well over £100,000 worth of kit burnt out this morning".
"We have community now in fear," she said.
"This is pure criminality. These are thugs who have nothing better to do with their time.
"Half six in the morning, going out, terrorising a bus driver and burning out one of our buses. How's that going to help the protocol?"
'Finger-pointing opportunities'
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA Mike Nesbitt said that "if this was meant to be some kind of protest against the NI Protocol then it is entirely counterproductive".
He added that there is "absolutely no justification for the attack".
"This advances no cause other than to terrorise a bus driver and inconvenience local people who rely on bus services to get their children to school and get into town to go to the shops.
"Vandalism and wanton destruction can never be the way forward."
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister said that "bus burning, or any violence, is wrong and serves no purpose other than to give protocol supporters finger-pointing opportunities".
"I have long said that concerted political action is essential to defeat and remove the iniquitous protocol. It is that which will work and which will leave no room for that which brings discredit to the cause."
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane called for "clear condemnation from unionist leaders on this reckless and dangerous violence".
"There are huge opportunities for our local businesses through the protocol to create jobs, this violence undermines those opportunities," he said.
"Words and actions are very important, and I would urge unionist leaders to end the provocative language and dishonesty around the protocol."