Man jailed for bomb hoax on Wandsworth bus

A man who claimed he was wearing a suicide vest on a London bus has been imprisoned for 26 weeks after causing terror to passengers and triggering an armed police response. Abdul Lasharie, 47, was found guilty of a bomb hoax offence that occurred on August 15 in Wandsworth.

During the incident, Lasharie communicated information he knew to be false, intending to make passengers believe a bomb was present on the bus. He denied the offence but was convicted on September 17 at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court. The court heard that Lasharie had claimed to be wearing a suicide vest, which terrified those on board and led to the deployment of armed officers.

Magistrates stated that the effect on the public was difficult to imagine and that Lasharie had terrified people on the bus. They determined the offence was serious enough to warrant an immediate custodial sentence.

In addition to the bomb hoax, Lasharie was also convicted of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. This conviction stemmed from threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour used during the same incident. He had also denied this charge but was found guilty.

Following his convictions, Lasharie was ordered to pay £400 towards prosecution costs. The court also mandated two separate compensation awards of £200 each, totalling £400, in connection with the bomb hoax offence.

Background to the convictions

Abdul Lasharie, who resides in Notting Hill, committed the offences while travelling on a bus in Wandsworth. The incident on August 15 prompted a significant police operation due to the nature of Lasharie's claims. His conviction on September 17 followed a trial where he maintained his innocence regarding the bomb hoax.