The bus was the target of stone throwing and blows, which caused at least one window to explode, while panic spread among the vehicle's passengers, including several families. While the majority of passengers fled, the two groups clashed violently: three teenagers were seriously injured, including one in the head, the victim of a blow from an iron bar recovered from a construction site. He was unconscious when he was transported to La Cavale-Blanche hospital.
An arrest Friday evening
The driver having immediately raised the alarm, a large police force was quickly deployed on site, and as far as the Schuman Bridge, in order to secure the scene and try to identify the belligerents.
According to our information, the attack on the bus was caused by a first clash between the two groups, which occurred earlier in the evening, near Lunapark, in Penfeld. And at least one arrest, of a young person who fled after the confrontation in Bellevue, was reportedly carried out by the police on Friday evening.
The network completely shut down Friday evening
Immediately after the incident, a crisis unit was set up by Bibus. “After having secured the driver and passengers of the bus, we diverted the lines which were to pass in this sector, to avoid other events”, reported this Saturday morning Philippe Ratto, director of RATP-Dev Brest, the network operator. A usual measure in this type of situation and in accordance with the emergency protocol defined, with the police, following the vehicle attacks that occurred in the Pontanézen district in January 2022.
But given the seriousness of the facts, and “to avoid any other event or incident, and to keep our employees and passengers safe”, the operator decided around 11 p.m. to suspend bus traffic on all routes. network lines and until the end of the service, in agreement with Brest Métropole. An extremely rare measure in Brest.
Bergot avoided from 6 p.m.
This Saturday morning, bus traffic resumed normally, including in the Bellevue district. However, the Bergot sector will be avoided from 6 p.m. “In conjunction with the police, we are strengthening security in the area and its surroundings. We'll see how things go and if everything goes normally, we will resume service to the neighborhood on Sunday evening,” announces Philippe Ratto, who confirms that a complaint will be filed.
The driver of the attacked bus, an employee of a Bibus subcontractor, was interviewed by the police on Friday evening. “He was shocked, but he is better this morning. Today, he is obviously not working. He will be supported by his manager and will be able to benefit, if he wishes, from psychological assistance,” assures Bibus management.
According to our information, a meeting with the social partners should be held during the day, in order to discuss the conditions for a return to normal on the entire network, but also the traffic conditions for the evening of December 31. A New Year's Eve which worries the unions in view of the events which occurred Friday evening.
