Ocean
The Living Force
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1066493_axe_yobs_target_school_bus
Axe yobs target school bus
Wayne Ankers
12/ 9/2008
AN axe-wielding masked gang launched a terrifying attack on a school bus full of youngsters.
The bus, with about 30 children on board, was also battered with a crowbar and a golf club. One pupil was injured in the attack.
It had stopped at the junction of Simonsway and Shadow Moss Road, Wythenshawe, when the gang of five - all wearing dark hoodies and balaclavas - launched the attack.
They used the weapons to smash windows on the bus, from top school St Ambrose College in Hale Barns, and an axe was thrown straight through the vehicle, narrowly missing the head of one boy.
Passenger George Fountain, 12, of Cheadle, told how it was lucky nobody was seriously hurt.
The year-eight pupil said: "All of a sudden the gang appeared and I heard a big smash and glass was everywhere.
"They had an axe and a crowbar and golf club and were acting like maniacs.
"The axe went through one window and just missed one of my friends. It then smashed through the other side. It all happened very quickly and everyone had their heads down.
The youngster said five windows were smashed and one boy suffered a cut near his eye. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital as a precaution.
George's mum Marilyn, 42, said: "It is very shocking. It is not something you expect to happen on a school bus."
A police spokesman said the incident was being treated as a serious and threatening attack.
The spokesman added: "There appear to be no serious injuries at the moment. Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing." Michael Thompson, Headteacher at St Ambrose College, confirmed one boy sustained a minor cut in the attack.
He added: "The bus driver acted promptly and professionally, moving the bus to a safe location and then contacting both the police and the college.
"Police were present within minutes and teachers, who made their way to the incident immediately from St Ambrose College, some three miles away, arrived shortly afterwards and stayed with the boys until a replacement bus arrived.
"St Ambrose would like to thank the police for their swift response and the bus driver for his professional attitude.
"We believe it was a random attack and are being kept informed as police conduct their investigation."
Axe yobs target school bus
Wayne Ankers
12/ 9/2008
AN axe-wielding masked gang launched a terrifying attack on a school bus full of youngsters.
The bus, with about 30 children on board, was also battered with a crowbar and a golf club. One pupil was injured in the attack.
It had stopped at the junction of Simonsway and Shadow Moss Road, Wythenshawe, when the gang of five - all wearing dark hoodies and balaclavas - launched the attack.
They used the weapons to smash windows on the bus, from top school St Ambrose College in Hale Barns, and an axe was thrown straight through the vehicle, narrowly missing the head of one boy.
Passenger George Fountain, 12, of Cheadle, told how it was lucky nobody was seriously hurt.
The year-eight pupil said: "All of a sudden the gang appeared and I heard a big smash and glass was everywhere.
"They had an axe and a crowbar and golf club and were acting like maniacs.
"The axe went through one window and just missed one of my friends. It then smashed through the other side. It all happened very quickly and everyone had their heads down.
The youngster said five windows were smashed and one boy suffered a cut near his eye. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital as a precaution.
George's mum Marilyn, 42, said: "It is very shocking. It is not something you expect to happen on a school bus."
A police spokesman said the incident was being treated as a serious and threatening attack.
The spokesman added: "There appear to be no serious injuries at the moment. Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing." Michael Thompson, Headteacher at St Ambrose College, confirmed one boy sustained a minor cut in the attack.
He added: "The bus driver acted promptly and professionally, moving the bus to a safe location and then contacting both the police and the college.
"Police were present within minutes and teachers, who made their way to the incident immediately from St Ambrose College, some three miles away, arrived shortly afterwards and stayed with the boys until a replacement bus arrived.
"St Ambrose would like to thank the police for their swift response and the bus driver for his professional attitude.
"We believe it was a random attack and are being kept informed as police conduct their investigation."
