World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
18-year-old posed as bus driver and drove off with 41 passengers in Bremen
An 18-year-old posed as a replacement driver and took a regional bus from Bremen’s main station on Sunday.
He drove off with 41 passengers aboard, who were unaware of the deception.
The bus company’s director said the teenager had also tried to replace a driver the day before and had been warned about.
Police found the bus using GPS tracking by the bus company and stopped it.
Similar incidents had occurred in Bremen in 2024, including one successful bus theft.
Experts said a driver handover should involve checks such as confirming the replacement driver’s identity.
Police will discuss handover procedures with the bus company and what safeguards could prevent a repeat.
An 18-year-old posed as a replacement driver and drove off in a regional bus carrying 41 passengers in Bremen.
The incident happened on Sunday afternoon after the young man had drawn attention the previous day.
Police located and stopped the bus using GPS tracking by the bus company.
The bus company’s managing director said the young man had also tried to replace a driver on Saturday.
Police said they would discuss driver-change procedures with the bus company to help prevent similar incidents.
- Who
- An 18-year-old posing as a replacement bus driver drove off with 41 passengers.
- What
- He took a regional bus and drove away with the passengers aboard. Police later located and stopped it.
- When
- Sunday afternoon, shortly after 4 p.m. He had drawn attention on Saturday.
- Where
- At Hugo-Schauinsland-Platz near Bremen’s main railway station.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The 18-year-old appeared at Hugo-Schauinsland-Platz and presented himself as a railway employee, according to Milivoje Voß.
A bus-company driver warned Voß that the young man had tried to replace a driver.
The young man drove away in a regional bus with passengers aboard, and Voß called the police.
Police located and stopped the bus using GPS tracking by the bus company.
- Age
- 18
- Passengers
- 41
- Location
- Hugo-Schauinsland-Platz, near Bremen’s main railway station
- Time
- Sunday, shortly after 4 p.m.
- Tracking
- The bus company used GPS to help police locate the bus
3 sources
What people are saying
I immediately called the police
Here, the focus is particularly on the procedures during a driver change
In the worst case, such a vehicle could also be misused for other purposes