Isleworth Man Jailed for Bus Assault

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Attacked passengers on H37 on New Year’s Day

Abdi Ali, aged 26, of St. John’s Road in Isleworth has been jailed for 16 months after an assault on the H37 bus in the early hours of New Year's Day 2013. He was sentenced this week along with Mehari Abraham of Feltham who also participated in the attack.

At around 2am on 1 January 2013, Ali and Abraham boarded a busy route H37 bus going from Richmond to Heath Road, Hounslow. They began causing a disturbance, banging on the window, resulting in the driver stopping the bus.

Abdi Ali

One passenger asked the pair to stop. Ali and Abraham retaliated by punching and kicking him. Another passenger, a 35 year-old man from Surrey, attempted to intervene. He was also assaulted by Abraham, who punched him in the face. Ali and Abraham then turned their attention back to the first man and continued to attack him before they got off the bus at St John's Road, Isleworth. The police were called but the man who was the subject of the original attack had left and has not since been traced. The second man was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

Officers from the Transport for London funded Safer Transport Command obtained CCTV footage from the bus, which led to Ali and Abraham being identified.

Ali was arrested on 17 April 2013 and Abraham on 30 April 2013. They were later charged and appeared at Feltham Magistrates' Court on 23 September 2013.

Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, Safer Transport Command, said: "These offenders violently attacked two passengers travelling home after enjoying a night out on New Year's Eve. As a result of our investigation, they have been jailed for a significant amount of time. Committing crime on London's bus network will not be tolerated and we will bring those who are responsible to justice."

Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "We care about every journey our passengers make, and preventing crime on our transport network is a priority for the Mayor and TfL. Violent incidents like this are very rare on London's buses, but we are not complacent and will continue to work hard with our policing partners to ensure our transport system remains a safe, secure, and low crime environment."

May 9, 2014