Jena, May 29, 2026. On Thursday afternoon, a spitting attack on a bus driver occurred in a scheduled bus in the center of Jena. Thanks to the decisive and courageous intervention of passengers and a fellow bus driver, worse was prevented.
- Incident: Physical assault and spitting attack on a bus driver
- Location: Leutragraben, Jena
- Time: Thursday, 28.05.2026, in the afternoon
- Involved: A 24-year-old bus driver, a 45-year-old suspect, courageous passengers and a colleague from oncoming traffic
- Investigation: Proceedings for bodily harm initiated, video material secured
Chronology of the Incident at Leutragraben
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the middle of Jena city center. A scheduled bus was in the area of the busy Leutragraben and had to stop at a red light (traffic signal). A 45-year-old passenger then demanded to be allowed to leave the bus prematurely at this point. When the 24-year-old bus driver dutifully pointed out that exiting outside regular stops is not permitted for safety reasons, the situation escalated. The man verbally attacked the driver and suddenly spat directly in her face.
Moral Courage on the Bus: Passengers and Oncoming Traffic Intervene
In this threatening situation, the exemplary moral courage of those present was shown. Instead of looking away, several passengers on the bus reacted immediately. They intervened courageously and actively tried to keep the aggressive man away from the driver and calm the situation. At the same time, the driver of an oncoming scheduled bus noticed the events. He stopped his vehicle, rushed to assist, and stood protectively in front of the victim together with the passengers.
The 45-year-old attacker, however, could hardly be calmed down. He continued to react extremely aggressively, swinging and kicking wildly towards the helpers. Fortunately, he did not hit anyone present, who prevented worse through their decisive appearance.
Police Operation and Investigation
The alerted police arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and were able to apprehend the upset suspect on site. Criminal proceedings for bodily harm, among other things, were initiated against the 45-year-old. For the exact reconstruction of the course of events, the officers secured the video material from the surveillance camera of the scheduled bus. The investigation by the criminal police is ongoing.
Source:
Bus driver spat in the face
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.