MILAN: The burnt school bus that was transporting some 50 children on Thursday after it was torched by the driver — AFP MILAN, Mar 21 (AP): A bus driver in northern Italy abducted 51 children and their school chaperones on Wednesday, threatening the hostages' lives for 40 minutes and setting the bus on fire at a Carabinieri blockade.
Officers from the national police force broke windows at the back of the bus to reach the passengers and got all of them out without serious injuries before flames destroyed the vehicle, authorities said.
The driver was apprehended and treated for burns. Prosecutors described him as a 47-year-old Italian citizen of Senegalese origin and said he told authorities he wanted to vindicate Europe-bound migrants who have died in the Mediterranean Sea but did not plan to hurt anyone.
However, prosecutors said the suspect, identified as Ousseynou Sy, made preparations that showed his actions were premediated, such as buying a canister of gasoline and restraints on Tuesday.
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