Man Of Senegalese Origin Attempts To Set Bus Carrying Schoolchildren On Fire - Reports

An Italian citizen of Senegalese origin attempted to set a bus with dozens of children on fire on a road near Milan, local media reported on Wednesday

ROME (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th March, 2019) An Italian citizen of Senegalese origin attempted to set a bus with dozens of children on fire on a road near Milan, local media reported on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old bus driver, who received an Italian citizenship back in 2004, poured gasoline inside the vehicle, the RaiNews24 tv channel said. According to witnesses, he allegedly shouted that he wanted "to stop deaths in the Mediterranean Sea." The man was presumably referring to the numerous fatalities among the asylum-seekers who are trying to reach Europe illegally by boats via the Mediterranean route.

The bus was carrying 51 people, mostly pupils from a school in the town of Crema, some 25 miles from Milan.

There were several adults accompanying the children on board. One of the schoolchildren raised the alarm and called the police after the bus driver started threatening them. Police promptly arrived at the scene and managed to detain the suspect.

No one was injured in the incident, according to medics. However, 12 children and two adults with smoke inhalation symptoms were taken to a local hospital.

Milan prosecutor Francesco Greco and Carabinieri (National law enforcement) Provincial Commander Luca De Marchis arrived at the scene and police started an investigation. The suspect had a criminal record, according to the reports.