12 February 2024 , 23:04
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Shocking footage shows the moment a man is Tasered by police on a bus after threatening other passengers with an "unknown substance".
Officers stormed the vehicle in Croydon following a three-hour stand-off on Sunday evening. The man - reported to be in his late 30s - reportedly became aggressive when he was asked to stop smoking.
Footage shows the group of officers in blue jumpsuits entering the mostly empty double-decker bus while holding shields aloft. Police then proceed to the top deck where they quickly move in on the man, crowding him with the shields while one of the officers uses the Taser. Passengers left the bus without any hostages being taken, and the substance was not thrown at anyone. No injuries have been reported.
The man was arrested in Croydon after threatening other passengers with an 'unknown substance' (UKNIP)Police said a Taser was used on the man prior to his arrest for affray, and that he was believed to have taken drugs before the incident. Amber Nurse, 38, an admin clerk who witnessed the incident outside her home, described seeing a police negotiator at the scene. She told Daily Express.co.uk: "There was a big queue of traffic behind the bus. The police were there and then I saw the armed police too looking around. That's when I thought 'this is quite serious'. The guys in the blue suits were there. There was a negotiator trying to get him downstairs. Then they went up. They approached him and finally Tasered him."
Footage shows him sat on the top deck of the bus as police enter downstairs (SWNS)The substance in the bottle was found not to be harmful. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Mirror: "A man has been arrested by Met officers responding to an incident on a bus. The man had made threats but no hostages were taken. Police were called to London Road, Thornton Heath shortly after 20:30hrs on Sunday, 11 February, to a man threatening bus passengers with an unknown substance.
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"Nobody was held hostage. The man made threats and everyone else on the bus immediately got off. The substance was not thrown. Shortly before midnight, the 44-year-old man was arrested for affray. The substance was found not to be harmful.
"Taser was discharged prior to his arrest and officers believe the man had taken drugs. As a precaution, he was taken to hospital. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening."