Bus Case Studies

Karachi Bus Attack (2015)

Gunmen attacked a bus in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 45 and injuring dozens; attackers stopped the bus, fired from outside, boarded, and shot passengers—targeting the Nizari Isma’ili Muslim community.

Who was responsible for the Karachi Bus Attack?

Several FTOs claimed responsibility, including ISIS, Jundallah, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

MTA Crown Heights Bus Attack (2023)

Lone offender assaulted an MTA bus driver after refusing to exit an out-of-service bus; driver was punched and had lighter fluid poured on him.

Crown Heights Attack – Key Detail

The driver took a photo of the suspect before he fled, aiding identification.

CTA Bus Attack – Chicago (2023)

Criminal workplace violence where two perpetrators assaulted and robbed a passenger on a CTA bus before fleeing.

RTC Syracuse Shooting (2020)

Customer-related workplace violence where a Greyhound passenger opened fire after becoming angry over a mechanical delay at the RTC.

MTA Employee Locker Room Attack (2023)

Employee-on-employee workplace violence involving harassment and physical assault motivated by gender identity; charged as a hate crime.

Maryland Transit Bus Driver Murder (2022)

Related-party workplace violence where a bus driver was stalked and murdered by an individual she had previously filed a protective order against.

Amtrak Insider Threat – Stolen Security Keys (2021)

An Amtrak conductor stole high-security rail keys and attempted to sell them online, posing serious infrastructure and weapons-access risks.

South Los Angeles Bus Hijacking & Shooting (2024)

Armed hijacking where a suspect shot a passenger, forced the driver to continue driving, and was eventually stopped by police using spike strips.

China Bus Knife Hijacking & Vehicle Ramming (2018)

Knife-wielding attacker hijacked a bus and intentionally rammed pedestrians after a dispute with state officials; motivated by revenge against society.

LA Metro Bus Stabbing (2023)

Edged-weapon attack where a 17-year-old stabbed a bus driver multiple times, leaving the driver in critical condition.

Broward County Transit Active Shooter (2022)

Active shooter fired 21 rounds on a bus, killing two; driver drove directly to the police department, ending the attack.

Central Ohio Transit Authority Cyberattack (2022)

Cyber incident forced COTA to shut down IT systems, disrupting Wi-Fi, real-time tracking, trip planning, and communications without data loss.

Seattle Parking Garage Pipe Bomb (2022)

Suspicious object incident involving a pipe bomb placed in a transit-adjacent parking garage; device was rendered safe by bomb squad.