Marseille Bus Driver Brutally Attacked Over Smoking Dispute
A bus driver sustained severe injuries after being assaulted with a baseball bat by a passenger who refused to stop smoking, prompting protests by transport workers.
- The attack occurred on January 23, 2025, on Marseille's RTM Line 91 when the driver asked a passenger to extinguish his cigarette.
- The assailant struck the driver multiple times with a baseball bat, causing a severe head injury; the driver was hospitalized but is not in critical condition.
- The suspect, described as a tall, heavyset man with a beard, fled the scene and is currently being sought by police using surveillance footage from the bus.
- Transport workers in Marseille exercised their right to withdraw from work in protest, halting bus and tram services for the evening.
- The incident highlights growing concerns about violence in public transport, with officials proposing new security measures including increased powers for security agents and advanced surveillance technologies.
Le Figaro 
Le Journal du Dimanche 