Bus thugs knife hero passenger

A bus passenger was beaten and stabbed after he told a gang of teenage thugs to stop abusing a pensioner and a pregnant woman.

The 32-year-old was knifed in the stomach and leg after he took on two boys and a girl who had been hassling fellow passengers on the 488 in Bow.

He was taken to The Royal London Hospital and has since been discharged. The thugs got off and ran away. No arrests have been made.

A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "The victim had remonstrated with a group of three people who had been uncooperative and abusive towards passengers, including a pregnant woman and elderly lady.

"As the bus was in Parnell Road the victim was punched and stabbed by one of the group.

"Officers from the Violent Crime Unit at Limehouse Police station are investigating. We are appealing for information following the incident, which took place on a 488 bus between Dalston and Bromley-by-Bow on Wednesday, September 14." The suspects were aged 16 to 20. One of the men was slim and black and the other was stocky and white, with what was described as a baby face.

The woman was described as having a chunky build with brown curly hair and black-rimmed glasses.

Anyone with information should call the Violent Crime Unit on 020 7275 4772 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.