19 people arrested at Thebarton after wild mass brawl on Adelaide Metro bus

A 13-year-old girl is one of 19 people arrested after wild CBD bus brawl spilt on to a street, leaving the bus damaged and a trail of blood, broken glass and rocks.

Nineteen people, ranging from a 13-year-old girl to a 58-year-old man, have been arrested and charged after a wild mass brawl on an Adelaide Metro bus spilled out on to the street.

There were too many for the city watch-house, so some of those arrested were taken to other metropolitan holding facilities.

Police said a group of people got on the bus, travelling to the western suburbs, at West Tce just after 8.30am and became involved in a fight.

The brawl ended up on the road around the corner from The Ice Arena, after the driver Gurwinder Sing stopped the bus on George St, Thebarton.

One woman sustained head injuries and was transported to hospital, but they were not considered life-threatening.

Those arrested included seven men, women and a child from Seaton, three from the state’s Far North, and others from Greenwith, Marion and Ridleyton.

Mr Singh said the fight was allegedly between two groups who got on the bus at different stops in the CBD.

Police have made multiple arrests after a brawl near the CBD. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The brawl involved multiple people and took place on a bus in George St, Thebarton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The bus was badly damaged during the wild brawl in George St, Thebarton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Police at the scene of the bus brawl. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Forensic police collect hair after a large brawl on a bus in George St, Thebarton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

At least six police cars attended the scene. Picture: Aden Hill

The groups allegedly began shouting, before the confrontation turned violent, with rocks being thrown inside the bus, and blood spilt on the street.

Mr Singh said he drove down George St before exiting the bus with other passengers not involved in the brawl and calling police.

“When the situation got serious, I just got off the bus, then I went to a safe place,” Mr Singh said.

He said there was blood and at one stage a passenger lying on the floor.

Police could also be seen picking up strands of hair.

When The Advertiser arrived, the bus was cordoned off with tape and police were surrounding six people who sat on the ground in a nearby parking lot.

The Advertiser also overheard one of the suspects tell police they had come to Adelaide from interstate.

Small spots of blood led from the bus to the handcuffed suspects, with broken glass and rocks littering the scene.

Bus driver Gurwinder Singh speaks to media after the brawl. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Forensic police collect hair after the large brawl. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Rocks and glass scatter George St, Thebarton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A man is arrested and taken away by police after the brawl. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Police made multiple arrests after the mass brawl on an Adelaide Metro bus. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The bus driver’s window was damaged, the front windshield hit several times with a rock and the bus door smashed.

Mr Singh said he was scared during the incident and described being a bus driver as a “hard” job. “After seeing today, like, yeah, it’s very hard. It’s a very risky job.”

Police arrested 17 people at the scene, with the police paddy wagon making several trips to the watch-house to deliver the suspects.

Those arrested have been charged with aggravated affray and property damage, and barred from public transport for three months.

They were bailed to appear in court at a later date.

It is unclear what sparked the incident but police said the people were known to each other.

Originally published as 19 people arrested at Thebarton after wild mass brawl on Adelaide Metro bus