Gunman robs bus passengers

BOGOR (JP): A bus plying the Banjar-Jakarta route with 21 passengers on board was held up by an unidentified armed robber in the early hours on Thursday.

After being able to keep the passengers silent, the sole hijacker then collected the valuable items from the travelers and grabbed the driver's cash of Rp 340,000.

Witnesses said that the Batara bus arrived at about 12:30 a.m. in Ciawi area as some passengers got off here and a tall man reportedly got in and sat at the back of the bus.

A witness, Endang Rachmat, 45, said soon after the bus arrived at Sentul rest area, the man shouted and ordered the driver to stop the bus.

"But the driver ignored him and continued speeding. He then came forward and sprayed bullets to the front window," Endang said, adding that soon after the bus stopped and the man started to rob off the passengers.

The man then escaped the scene while blindly firing to the air, he said.

At least three similar robberies on board a bus had taken place in the same area last month.

The crimes was also carried out by a single man, who firstly pretended as a passenger before holding up his gun. None of the cases have been solved by the police. (21/edt)