JUTC Offers $1 Million Reward After Bus Arson Attack

Bus Arson Attack: The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a man believed to be responsible for an arson attack that destroyed a bus at the Spanish Town lay-by on May 30.

During a press briefing on Monday, the JUTC released surveillance footage showing a male passenger wearing a hat boarding the bus in downtown Kingston at approximately 2:43 p.m. The man travelled to Spanish Town and remained on the bus after other passengers had exited.

The footage reportedly shows the suspect igniting an object before leaving the vehicle. Moments later, the bus burst into flames and was completely destroyed.

JUTC Managing Director Owen Ellington said the replacement cost of the bus is estimated at US$200,000.

Investigators believe the suspect may also be linked to a similar arson attempt at the Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre in 2024. In that incident, surveillance footage captured a man wearing a similar hat setting an object alight before fleeing. A JUTC employee detected the smoke and extinguished the fire before significant damage occurred.

The JUTC is urging anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact the police or the company.