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BUS services were
diverted for "passenger safety" as supporters of an
asylum seeker who is on hunger strike held a second
night of protests.
First said it diverted four services off Spital
Hill, Burngreave, last night after they claimed a
bus was attacked by up to 40 supporters of
20-year-old Kurd Naseh Ghafor on Tuesday.
A company spokesperson said: "We are not taking any
more chances like we did on Tuesday night. The
safety of passengers and drivers is priority. We are
absolutely appalled that one of our drivers was
treated like this."
The 75, 76, 97
and 33 were diverted off Spital Hill to Gower Street
and Carlisle Street, from 5.30pm to 7pm.
The bus was reportedly attacked on Tuesday by
supporters of Mr Ghafor, who has spent 43 days
without food after sewing up his lips in protest
over deportation.
His supporters say Mr Ghafor's health is
deteriorating rapidly and one, Mark Mozaz Wallace,
says he will change his name to Naseh Ghafor in his
memory if his protest proves fatal.
First claims protesters surrounded the bus for up to
15 minutes, kicked panels, smashed a wing mirror and
tipped paint over the windscreen. No arrests were
made.
The driver
is off work, suffering from shock.
A protester said the peaceful vigil became
aggressive after the driver "jerked the bus forward"
as it neared the group. First said there was no
evidence to support the claim.
Last night's vigil was believed to have been
peaceful. A police spokesperson said: "We were aware
of a group of people in Burngreave, but there has
been no criminality."
Police are said to be studying CCTV pictures from
the area.
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