Police detain 16-year-old after attack on Klaipėda bus driver

A 16-year-old has been detained after a group of teenagers assaulted a bus driver in Klaipėda, LRT reported. The incident began aboard the bus on Monday afternoon, when teenagers discharged a fire extinguisher; the driver was later attacked at a bus stop.

Footage recorded by a passenger shows one teenager shouting at the driver before another runs up and hits him. The bus’s passengers were frightened. The 62-year-old driver was injured and is currently off work.

Vaidas Ramanauskas, head of Klaipėdos paslaugos, the public transport company, told LRT that a group of teenagers boarded in the city centre, gathered at the back of the bus, made noise and smoked an electronic cigarette. After passengers alerted the driver, he asked the teenagers to get off. He saw the fire extinguisher being discharged, and its contents spread through the bus as passengers began to leave.

Prosecutor Rita Ušinskienė said two minors were involved in the incident on the bus, before the conflict moved to the stop, where the driver was assaulted. One of the minors has been detained. The investigation is being conducted on suspicion of disturbing public order.

Ramanauskas said the teenagers were also known to police in connection with thefts. He said damage to buses was increasing, citing incidents including seats being removed, windows broken and tickets stolen. He added that drivers were increasingly worried about their safety, making it harder to recruit them.

Gintarė Noliūtė, head of the Klaipėda County Child Rights Protection Division, said the children and their families had previously received support from child rights specialists. The division planned to contact their legal representatives, speak with the children and hear their views, she said.