The Metropolitan Police has received praise from a London MP following the arrest of a multi-millionaire banker suspected of being the 'Putney Pusher'. Putney MP Fleur Anderson expressed hope that the arrest would provide some 'reassurance' to the woman who was pushed in front of a bus nine years ago.
Arrest Made in 2017 Incident
Detectives arrested a 44-year-old man on Monday in connection with the 2017 incident, during which a jogger shoved a woman headfirst into the path of a double-decker London bus. The suspect was taken in for questioning on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and was later released on police bail pending further investigations.
Details of the Attack
The jogger was captured on camera running on Putney Bridge at approximately 7:40 am on May 5, 2017. He passed one man before pushing the 33-year-old woman off the kerb and into a bus lane. The assailant was believed to be a stranger to the victim. Bus driver Oliver Salbris, who was driving the 430 route, managed to swerve and avoid hitting her by inches. 'If I hadn't swerved, I would have smashed her head,' he told The Sunday Times. 'It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.' About 15 minutes after the push, the jogger reportedly returned across the bridge and ignored the victim when she attempted to speak to him.
Investigation and Political Response
During the initial investigation, detectives identified more than 50 persons of interest before closing the probe in 2018, stating that all lines of inquiry had been exhausted. However, the case was reopened with Monday's arrest. Ms Anderson commented: 'This is a significant step forward and one that many people in Putney will welcome after such a long time. My thoughts are with the woman involved - I hope this brings her some reassurance.' She added: 'I'd like to thank the police for sticking with this case over the years. It's important now that the investigation is able to proceed properly.'
Suspect Details and Ongoing Inquiry
The arrested man is a banker who was detained at his £1.4 million home in west London, according to the Daily Mail. A Metropolitan Police spokesman stated: 'On Monday, 15 June, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. He was taken to police custody, where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident on 5 May 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in Putney. Inquiries continue.'
Background of the Case
The Putney incident sparked significant interest and became one of Britain's most compelling unsolved cases. Three suspects were previously arrested, including an American investment banker who was able to prove he was in the US at the time. However, no suspect was ever charged. Bus driver Oliver Salbris previously told the Daily Mail: 'I always think about the case and I still drive over Putney Bridge several times a day. Whenever I'm on the bridge, I look very carefully at the pedestrians on the pavement, I just can't help it. I wouldn't say it haunts me, but it's not something I can easily forget. I'm glad my reactions were quick on that day, or it would have ended very differently, both for me and the woman who was pushed. Her head was only a few centimetres from the bus and the wheel, even after I swerved to avoid her.'
