Weimar (dpa/th) - After allegations against a bus driver who insulted a Syrian passenger on Monday, threw him off the bus and kicked him, the police found the suspect. In a first statement, he said that the whole thing had happened differently than described by the 32-year-old, a spokesman for the Jena State Police Inspectorate said on Thursday when asked. A detailed hearing of the man is planned for Friday. The police are also hoping for witnesses, such as other bus passengers, who can provide information about what happened.
The driver of the bus from Nohra to Weimar is said to have asked the Syrian at a bus stop on Erfurter Strasse in Weimar to get off the bus, even though he had a valid ticket and was wearing a mask. When he failed to do so, the driver grabbed his shoulders and pushed him through the open door onto the sidewalk, the 32-year-old later told the police. He also received several blows to the head and upper body. Then the driver continued driving.
According to the information, the criminal police are investigating on suspicion of politically motivated insult and bodily harm.
