Another stabbing on Greyhound

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Greyhound defends safety after 2nd violent attack
Updated Mon. Sep. 22 2008 3:22 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The second violent attack to occur aboard a Greyhound bus in recent months has triggered questions about security.

On Sunday, a young man believed to be in his 20s was attacked aboard a bus near White River, Ont., by a man who was put aboard the bus by police, according to a witness.

A 20-year-old passenger on the bus called police at about 4:15 p.m. on Sunday to report that another passenger had been stabbed on the westbound vehicle heading from Toronto to Winnipeg.

Const. James Searle of the Ontario Provincial Police said authorities received a call for help after the suspect was let off the bus.

"He walked to the front of the bus asked to be let off," Searle told CTV Newsnet on Monday. "The driver did so, closed the door back up, and then the emergency personnel were called into action.

"We had paramedics look after the gentleman that was injured and we were able to locate the suspect a very short time later and he was arrested without incident."

Searle would not comment on whether police had placed the accused on the bus, or why he was allowed off the bus because both matters will be part of their investigation.

David Roberts, from Manitouwadge, Ont. has been charged with aggravated assault and two counts of breach of probation. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on Monday.

Passenger safety questioned

The incident was a horrific reminder of an attack in late July in Manitoba when another Greyhound passenger, Tim McLean, was attacked and eventually beheaded.

A spokesperson for Greyhound Line Inc. declined to speak about the specific incidents due to the ongoing police investigation, but said the company is working hard to ensure the safety of its passengers.

"We've been working with Transport Canada for more than a year and a half, long before these two incidents occurred, to determine what security measures would be most effective for inter-city bus companies like Greyhound," Abby Wambaugh told CTV Newsnet from Dallas, Tx.

Wambaugh said the bus company is in the midst of a risk-assessment study that is being funded by Greyhound. Once that is complete, the company will present its recommendations to the agency for further discussions.

However, she said the suggestion that bus companies should implement airport-style security measures, such as x-ray machines, is simply not reasonable due to the rural nature of the bus network.

Wambaugh also said no security system would be entirely fail-safe.

"No security measure is impenetrable and we still believe that inter-city bus transportation like Greyhound is a very safe mode of transportation."

The 13 other people on the passenger list weren't injured but they were held over in White River, Ont. until 2 a.m. for police questioning.

The victim of Sunday's stabbing was taken to hospital in Wawa, Ont. before being transferred to Sault. Ste. Marie.

He is expected to live.

People are going to get all hysterical, but the company is correct, their security is just fine for what they do, they've just run into a little bad luck lately. Airport style security to get on a bus is just not practical, and would constitute an overreaction to a few terrible incidents.

From what I learned on CBC, the victim was reported to be of Asian heritage. I had my worries about revenge killings, but now it has happened. What a senseless and horrible thing to do. I am just glad the victim will live, though now he will be traumatized.

I don't think I will ever go on a Greyhound again after all of this, sheesh.