Brisbane bus driver robbed, threatened by man armed with axe

Horrifying CCTV footage of the moment a 66-year-old bus driver was attacked, threatened with a tomahawk and robbed on a Brisbane City Council bus has been released by police.

TERRIFYING footage of the moment a Brisbane bus driver was robbed and threatened with a tomahawk by a man with his face covered has been released by police.

CCTV footage shows a man in a hoodie and fabric across his face, wearing gloves, walk onto the bus armed with an axe and threaten the bus driver, who is off-screen.

The 66-year-old bus driver was the only person on board the bus, which was parked at a bus interchange at Forest Lake.

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The footage shows the offender pushing the bus driver twice before he grabs the cash box, brandishes the tomahawk at the bus driver, and runs.

He is described as African in appearance, approximately 175cms tall, aged between 20 to 30 and had a solid build.

He was wearing a yellow coloured hooded jumper (possibly hi vis) and had a black mask covering his face.

Anyone with any information which could assist with inquiries, or drivers with relevant dashcam vision, is asked to contact police.

A still from the CCTV of the attack on a bus driver at Forest Lake on Wednesday night. Police are appealing for witnesses or for dashcam footage of the incident. Picture: Supplied

Brisbane’s deputy mayor Krista Adams said she was “absolutely horrified” to hear of the unprovoked attack and robbery on a city bus driver.

“Thankfully the bus driver used his de-escalation training and was OK to return to work today,” she said.

Cr Adams, who is the Public and Active Transport Committee chair, said the council had been “urgently” calling on the State Government to provide more Senior Network Officers to protect drivers and passengers for more than two years.

“We once again call on the State Government to provide more Senior Network Officers,” she said.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union Queensland secretary Tom Brown called on the council to reinstate extra council-funded security guards on the route and install CCTV at the station.

He said the bus driver was “putting on a brave face”.

Mr Brown said the bus was on the 100 route, which was known as a dangerous route where the disturbing chroming trend began earlier this year.

“After security issues we demanded extra security guards, which we got, but at the end of the financial year they (the council) took that security off,” he said.

“This is the route we have been screaming about all year. They put on extra security then took it away. Now this happens.”

He said it was “very concerning” not only that the bus driver was attacked but also that it was “obviously premeditated”.

“It’s concerning that this area is being targeted.

A still from CCTV footage of an armed robbery where a Brisbane bus driver was attacked. Picture: Supplied

Labor public transport spokesman Jared Cassidy slammed Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for cancelling the extra security guards on the 100 route.

“It’s his responsibility to provide a safe workplace for Brisbane City Council employees,” he said.

“He took in an extra $7.7 million this year on bus shelter ads but he is too mean to invest in drivers’ safety.

“We have been calling for full safety screens for drivers on high-risk routes but this weak mayor will look to blame anyone and everyone rather than take action.”

Cr Adams said Labor councillors were trying to use the incident as an excuse to try to “score political points”.

“Labor councillors are trying to use this incident as an excuse to try and score political points — this was a horrible robbery and what Labor are doing is heartless and inappropriate,” she said.

The council has been enhancing safety on Brisbane’s bus network since 2017, including upgrading emergency exits and signage, and installing new partial coverage safety barriers every week.

A still from CCTV footage from the bus driver attack at Forest Lake. Picture: Supplied