A bus driver was assaulted in Telford, UK, after a man identified as 33-year-old Yemeni national Ali Balhad hit him, pulled his beard and headbutted him. People recording the incident questioned Balhad’s conduct, while the driver was heard asking bystanders to call the police as the assault continued. Balhad later forced the driver out of the bus and allegedly took control of it. He drove on the wrong side of the road and collided with multiple vehicles. Police reached the spot within 10 minutes of receiving a call and arrested Balhad. The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. Balhad was charged with assault, dangerous driving and threats to kill, among other charges. Police did not specify whether the incident was a hate crime and said the investigation was ongoing. According to the UK 2021 Census, around 5,24,000 people of Sikh faith resided in the UK, making up about 0.9% of the population. The UK recorded more than 1.15 lakh hate crimes between March 2024 and March 2025, according to UK government figures.