London: An innocent South Asian man was forced off a bus in Scotland by passengers who feared that he was a suicide bomber because he was carrying a rucksack and two mobile phones.
Police entered the coach and ordered the startled youth off for questioning after some commuters told the driver they had "concerns" he was a terrorist, The Sun newspaper reported.
A fellow-passenger told the paper: "It's terrible that people are alienated over the colour of their skin. I felt so sorry for the bloke because he hadn't done anything wrong. If anyone else had two mobile phones, no one would have bothered."
The paper said on Thursday the incident occurred on Sunday, soon after the coach left the city of Glasgow for Aberdeen.
A passenger twice complained to the baffled driver who was then forced to make a detour to a police station.
The man, who was not named by the newspaper, was searched and quizzed by police before being allowed back in.
Ghulam Siddiquie, general secretary of the Lanarkshire Muslim Welfare Society, told The Sun: "Things like this are happening too much now. Our community is very concerned and angry because we are being victimised over the colour of our skin. Even though we are used to it now, it is still hurtful."
IANS
First Published: Friday, January 08, 2010, 15:40