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Dartford 96 bus route terminated after rocks smashed through windows

Passengers have been left shaken after a series of attacks on bus services and bus stops this week including a woman who was injured by shattered glass.

Police were called to Greenhithe yesterday after a 96 bus travelling towards Dartford was pelted with rocks, smashing holes through the windows.

Photos of the damage to the 96 bus service appeared on Facebook following the incident
Photos of the damage to the 96 bus service appeared on Facebook following the incident

The service was terminated at 6pm in Watling Street, near Darent Valley Hospital following the incident

Mark Winter, a spokesman for Transport for London which runs the route praised the driver's response.

He said: "A couple of stones were thrown which made some small holes in the window. The bus was then taken out of service and no one was hurt."

Officers attended the scene and inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Police were called to a bus stop in Watling Street at 5.15pm on Tuesday following reports of a smashed bus shelter.

A Fast Track bus shelter was smashed up on Tuesday night
A Fast Track bus shelter was smashed up on Tuesday night

A woman and her daughter were waiting at the Fast Track stop when they came under attack from a passing vehicle.

The mother heard a bang and then a split second later "the explosion of glass".

Avril Louise Urquhart posted on a Facebook: "Around 5pm yesterday my daughter & I were involved in a incident. We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"We were sitting waiting on a fast track bus planning to visit Bluewater. Suddenly we were amongst the bus stops glass exploding on and around us.

"The police and ambulance were called immediately and it is being investigated that we were shot at by a passing vehicle.

"My Daughter and I heard a bang then split second later the explosion of glass.

Mrs Urquhart suffered injuries to the head after the glass shattered on her
Mrs Urquhart suffered injuries to the head after the glass shattered on her

"A few people heard the commotion and came out to help us, if this was you and you’re reading this thank you so much for staying with us until the emergency services arrived.

"Thankfully my Daughter was unharmed but very very shaken up and terrified. I however was and around 20 pieces of glass were removed from the side of my face and my head.

She was treated for injuries at the scene by the South East Ambulance Coast Service.

Jo Pattison, press officer for Kent Police confirmed the incident and said officers had attended the scene where a glass window in the bus shelter had shattered.

She said: "Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing".

Last week a Go Coach service was cancelled after "youths attacked it with a pole and air rifle" between West Kingsdown and Dartford.

Police confirmed reports of a brick being thrown at a bus in Crossways Boulevard on Wednesday 30 October. (21288055)
Police confirmed reports of a brick being thrown at a bus in Crossways Boulevard on Wednesday 30 October. (21288055)

Two further incidents, including a school bus being shot at resulting in a pupil being hit by glass, was reported by Go Coach in the same area on Monday.

An Arriva service was also attacked with a brick outside Asda Greenhithe in Crossways Boulevard.

Swanscombe Cllr Emma Ben Moussa said she was contacted by a distressed resident whose journey had been disrupted by two separate episodes of anti-social behaviour.

She said the woman was travelling on an Arriva service when a brick came through the window.

Then on her return journey home she said a firework was thrown at her.

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses following the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01474 366149, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

To get the latest updates on ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

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