A driver on the P7 route reported that he was threatened with a knife by a man near the Virgen del Camino in Havana, who also broke one of the vehicle's doors.
“Covered the route of the P7. It was around four in the morning. I left the terminal heading to Cotorro with the car loaded to the max. Upon reaching Virgen del Camino, they began to shout and a commotion broke out inside the car,” reported Yoendri Rivero Sánchez, the assaulted driver, to the local official newspaper Tribuna de La Habana.
“At that moment, about three people surrounded me, and one of the passengers held a knife to me and said, ‘Either you stop or you die!’ I stopped the bus, and at that moment, people started getting off the bus. When he stopped threatening me and walked to the back, I closed the doors,” he recounted.
After being notified by a passenger, Rivero Sánchez checked that a door of the vehicle had been broken and went "with the passengers who had not gotten off, directly to the Ninth Police Unit, as it was the closest one."
"There, he explained the existing situation, and the police ordered the passengers to disembark because the bus could not continue its journey. Now, while inspecting the bus at the stop, as I was removing the glass from the vehicle, I found the knife you see, and I imagine it belongs to one of the same people involved in the altercation," he stated.
The driver says that after this experience, he needs to recover emotionally and will consider whether to continue working the early morning shift.
"Really during the day, those things don't happen. In truth, everything took place during the confrontation of the night, mostly on Saturday and Sunday," he said.
According to the report, the bus has already been repaired, although “it could not operate in the morning, which resulted in it missing two rounds, equivalent to four trips.”
Lázaro González Mena, the Transport official and director of the Cotorro Bus Terminal, acknowledged that "recently there has been an increase" in these incidents, "mainly on weekends."
"At this time, the driver must go out alone to provide service, which wasn't the case before," he laments.
For his part, Joel Martínez González, director of Transportation for the municipality of Cotorro, also acknowledged that "these types of situations have increased in recent times; stoning incidents have occurred, such as with the A42, where the individuals responsible were apprehended, as well as similar incidents involving two P7, whose perpetrators were also caught."
Amid the rise in crime and social unrest, a result of the polycrisis affecting Cuban society, vandalism against public transportation buses in Havana is becoming increasingly common.
Other incidents
In April, bus 341 of the P13 was stoned during its route of confrontation.
The violent incident, which took place in the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, caused the glass from the entire right-side window of the vehicle to shatter.
On the same date, the bus 5248 on route 37 was stoned.
Previously, during the early hours of April 19, a vehicle serving the confrontation route P11 was stoned.
Days before, a vehicle from route 23, identified with the number 5229, was also stoned in the vicinity of Fábrica Park while covering its route from the Lawton Terminal in the Diez de Octubre municipality.
On that occasion, the state-owned company stated that, thanks to the intervention of the population and the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), several of the alleged offenders had been arrested.
In February, a driver from the P13 was brutally attacked in Fraternity Park by two passengers, sustaining a head injury that required medical attention.
In January, a group of students threw stones at a P11 bus following an argument with the driver.
Frequently Asked Questions about Violence on Public Transport in Havana
What happened to the bus driver in Havana who was threatened with a knife?
The driver of route P7 in Havana was threatened with a knife by a passenger, forcing him to stop the vehicle. The incident occurred near the Virgen del Camino and resulted in damage to one of the bus doors. The driver went to the police to report the incident, and the knife was later found in the vehicle.
Why are acts of vandalism on buses in Havana increasing?
Vandalism on buses in Havana has increased due to the rising crime and social unrest in the context of a polycrisis affecting Cuban society. The lack of resources and social frustration fuel these incidents, which have become more common, especially during the early mornings and on weekends.
What have been some recent incidents in Havana's public transportation?
In recent months, several incidents have been reported in public transportation in Havana, including stone-throwing at buses on various routes, such as the P13 and P11, and assaults on drivers. These acts have caused significant material damage and have created an atmosphere of insecurity among passengers and workers in the sector.
What measures are being taken to address violence on buses in Cuba?
Cuban authorities have urged the population to report any acts of vandalism against public transport, and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) is involved in investigations to apprehend those responsible. The importance of citizen collaboration has been emphasized to prevent and reduce these incidents, although problems continue due to the lack of effective solutions from the government.
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