“It was all very bizarre” explains bus driver Avrohom Werdiger, a 35-year-old chareidi from Bnei Brak employed by Egged for about a decade. Werdiger is the bus driver whose actions halted what could have been a bloody incident as he was attacked by a knife-wielding passenger.

Werdiger, who is also a Zaka volunteer explains “The moment I understood that there was a danger to my passengers I quickly opened the doors and permitted passengers to run for it. We were near the stop of Ra’anana Junction.”

The armed passenger however did not run, but he continued efforts to commandeer the bus. “He began beating me so I pulled my pistol and fired warning shots in the hope of distancing him. It worked. He fled.”

Auxiliary policeman Yaron Ganur heard the shots as he was passing, heading to a shift with traffic police. He apprehended the perpetrator, a male in his 30s.

As for Werdiger, Baruch Hashem his injuries were all light. He was showered with praise for his quick thinking and appropriate actions. Egged spokesman Ron Ratner praised him as well “for acting as he should by pulling his weapon.”

After giving his statement to police, Werdiger was transported to Ichilov Hospital where he was treated for minor cuts to an arm and for bruises to his head.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)