Simon Geoffrey Grant Nelson faces court charged over horror attempted bus hijacking

The man charged with attempting to hijack a charter bus full of elderly passengers bound for the Flinders Ranges – and assaulting police officers – has appeared in court for the first time.

The man accused of launching a horror attack on police officers who were allegedly trying to stop him from hijacking a charter bus full of elderly passengers will remain in custody until at least February.

Simon Geoffrey Grant Nelson faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, charged with four counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and one count of illegal use of a motor vehicle.

The 28-year-old, who is understood not to be from South Australia, was arrested after the alleged incident at the Adelaide Bus Station in the CBD last Saturday.

Mr Nelson was arrested at the scene. Picture: Supplied

Mr Nelson is accused of assaulting police while trying to hijack a bus full of passengers at the Franklin Street Bus Depot. Picture: Supplied

Mr Nelson was allegedly in the driver’s seat of the charter bus in an agitated state. Picture: Supplied

Emergency services were first called to Franklin St about 5.45am on Saturday October 12 after receiving reports of an intoxicated man displaying “concerning” behaviour.

In footage obtained by The Advertiser, a bystander is seen comforting the two injured SAPOL officers.

The bus driver, Tom Christie, said the man stepped onto the bus and sat himself in the third row among the other twenty-six elderly passengers who were set to travel to the Flinders Ranges.

When police arrived on scene, Mr Nelson was allegedly in the driver’s seat and in an agitated state.

Patrols allegedly attempted to coax the unwanted man off the bus, however, when they failed the situation escalated into a physical brawl.

Police said following the alleged incident, two officers were taken to hospital for treatment – one suffered an eye injury and a second suffered a head injury.

In Court on Friday, Mr Nelson did not make any application for bail, and was remanded in custody until February.

Originally published as Simon Geoffrey Grant Nelson faces court charged over horror attempted bus hijacking