Video: Bus passenger blinded with pepper spray in horrific seven-minute attack
A bus passenger was temporarily blinded with pepper spray and subjected to a prolonged beating after asking a man to stop children throwing sweets at him.
Police have now released CCTV footage of the attack in the hope of tracing the thug.
The 21-year-old was travelling on the top deck of the No 24 bus along Birmingham's Broad Street when he was set upon by a man – believed to be the two children's father – who lashed out with a series of punches, knees and kicks.
It's understood the offender squirted pepper spray in the man's eyes before both he and a woman tormented him with sporadic physical and verbal outbursts over a seven-minute period.
The victim, from Birmingham's Woodgate area, suffered a badly broken nose and other facial injuries during the 11 January assault.
Investigating officer, PC Rob Harper, described the attack as "barbaric" and urged anyone who recognised the attackers to come forward.
He told Aol Travel: "The man was minding his own business when he politely asked the group to stop throwing sweets at him – but that request prompted a barbaric, prolonged attack.
"The victim had something like pepper spray squirted in his face which rendered him defenceless as the blows rained down on him.
"At one stage the attacker stands on a seat to get a better kicking angle, whilst the woman he was with also occasionally joined in the assault. The victim was lucky to escape with only a broken nose as it could have been much worse.
"What makes this even more shocking is that they unleashed this attack in front of the two children they were travelling with. These are clear CCTV images of both the main offender and the woman with him - if you recognise them or think you've seen them please call us on 101."
The man, woman and children all left the bus at the Green Man in Harborne at around 6pm.
Anyone with information about the attack, or believes they recognise the attackers, is urged to call PC Rob Harper at Birmingham Central Police on 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
West Midlands Police Sergeant Ben Westwood from the Safer Travel Partnership reassured passengers that crime on the bus network has fallen dramatically over recent years.
He added: "This was undoubtedly a nasty attack...but incidents like this are rare on our bus network where crime has fallen by around a half in the last five years since the safer Travel Partnership was established."
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