Two injured in bus firework blast

A man and a young child have been treated in hospital after a firework exploded on a bus.

They were injured when the device ricocheted off the inside of the bus which was carrying 15 passengers.

It is understood two men threw the firework onto the number 173 service at a bus stop in Ripple Road, Dagenham, east London, on Wednesday evening.

A spokeswoman for bus operator Arriva said the man was burnt on his thigh and the child suffered a leg injury.

Police examination

The bus was travelling from east Beckton to King George Hospital at about 1930 BST when the attack happened.

It had stopped to pick up waiting passengers when two men threw a firework onto the bus through the back doors.

The bus then filled with smoke and the device darted around inside until it burnt itself out.

Both the man and the child were taken to hospital for treatment.

Arriva said the bus had been taken off the road and was awaiting inspection by the police.