Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Partly sunnyNews
| 
Submit Comments
DAVE Sweeney of Orion Transport with the clearly marked bus, after the shooting.
Gunman shoots at disabled students
Alex Scapens14/11/2007
DISABLED students were shot at in a terrifying sniper attack as their specially adapted bus was about to join the M60.
Three pupils from the specialist Bridge College in Offerton, were on board and being taken home when two side windows shattered from the impact of ammunition - thought to be pellets from an airgun - on Thursday at 3.50pm.
As glass flew through the inside of the bus, driver Brian O’Donnell carried on up the sliproad at Junction 2 of the M60, fearing more shots may be fired.
Maggie Thompson, Bridge College headteacher, praised his actions and staff at bus operator Orion Transport, but has been left disgusted by the attack.
She said: "It was clearly an appalling thing for anyone to do.
"Our students have a range of learning disabilities including significant physical disabilities and are a vulnerable group.
"Whoever has done this is callous and may see it as a bit of fun but they put everyone in significant danger. Although I don’t think they specifically targeted our pupils they should be ashamed of themselves, it’s good luck no-one was injured.
"Horrible as the incident was the students are fine and I think it is because the transport staff managed the situation very calmly, reassuring them."
The bus was taking pupils to homes across Stockport and Manchester and had dropped some off before the shots were fired. It is thought the shooter or shooters were hidden at the side of the motorway sliproad.
Normally a wheelchair-bound student sits at the specially adapted place next to the
smashed window which shattered, but he was ill on Thursday and had not gone to college.
Dave Sweeney, from Orion Transport, said if someone had been sitting there, they would have been seriously injured.
He added: "This is a bus for special needs students, who were distressed and shocked to find the windows caving in.
"It’s an extremely stupid and dangerous thing to do, the driver could easily have lost control and there could have been a fatal accident.
"This has happened to us before and if it continues sooner or later someone is going to die. I would urge anyone who knows who did this to go straight to the police."
The company says it has reported the incident to the police. Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Most recent 1 of 1 user comments
Got an opinion you want to share?| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| AA | 7.9% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Abbey Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
4.50% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
1.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
2.25% |
Well - as said before - these IGNORAMII HAVE to be dealy with more firmly - so when found (hopefully soon) - then they (1 or more?) should NOT simply be given the perfunctory 'SLAP ON THE WRIST' - but should be taken into the Town Centre - AND PUBLICLY FLOGGED!! and that goes for the time when (after found) they don't get their pics/names in the papers/News - they NEED to be Publicly Revealed!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! Frank Senior ex Brit/Stoconian, Perth W Australia
15/11/2007 at 01:38