Panic has spread across Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram network following a disturbing series of incidents in which a masked individual, described as wearing an industrial blue gas mask, has allegedly released a mysterious and noxious substance inside multiple tram carriages. Commuters riding on services around Bury, particularly near the Queen’s Road and Crumpsall areas, were left disoriented, dizzy, and even sick, sparking major concern among the public and prompting calls for police intervention.
The situation unfolded in two separate but highly similar instances over the course of one week, one happening last Thursday and another again on Saturday. Multiple eyewitnesses reported hearing a “hissing” sound immediately before being hit by a pungent, gas-like odor. The suspect, who remains unidentified, reportedly boards trams while fully covered in a blue face mask and an additional industrial gas mask. Commuters were not only alarmed by his bizarre attire but became genuinely fearful once physical symptoms began manifesting moments after he manipulated what appeared to be a gas canister hidden in his pocket.
One passenger, who was aboard the tram last Thursday, recounted the unnerving ordeal to Manchester Evening News, saying he was initially confused by the man’s strange appearance, but confusion quickly turned into panic once the hissing began. “I was sat on the tram and a guy got on at Queen’s Road wearing a blue face mask with an industrial gas mask over the top of that. There was a hissing noise and people started looking around,” he said. He described the smell of gas as overwhelming, adding that a nearby girl physically relocated away from the man out of instinct. “People looked really concerned,” he continued. “I had a headache and felt dizzy and a bit sick. When the tram got to Abraham Moss, myself and a few other people got off and I reported it to the police.”
Another passenger also came forward to describe the chaos from a different perspective. He explained how the man deliberately twisted something in his pocket, believed to be a canister, which immediately emitted a chemical substance. “Some fella was on the tram with a gas mask letting off some gas and everyone had to get off. I was on it, sat across from him and watched him twist the gas canister in his pocket to let it out,” he said. The account points to premeditated behavior, adding more gravity to the situation.
Social media also became a hub of reports from concerned individuals who were directly affected by the incident. One Facebook user shared their account of traveling home from Market Street to Bury when the man appeared. He was reportedly in a blue hoodie, wearing a heavy-duty gas mask and carrying a backpack. The person described how the situation escalated within moments of the man’s arrival. “After two minutes of him getting in he started to fidget in his pocket. Everyone started to worry and panic,” the post stated. “Lots of people started to run down the tram away from him, the smell and the effect of whatever substance he released was extremely strong. I nearly lost consciousness after five seconds.”
This rapidly growing concern comes at a time when public transport is already under pressure due to maintenance, safety, and crowding issues. Incidents like this add another dimension of fear for passengers who depend on these services daily. While no fatal injuries have yet been reported, the symptoms described by several witnesses—ranging from nausea to near-fainting—suggest that the substance released is not just unpleasant but potentially harmful.
The Greater Manchester Police have yet to issue a full statement on the events, though The Mirror has reached out for comment. With growing attention and pressure from the public, it’s expected that an investigation is either already underway or will be initiated urgently. The combination of calculated behavior, repeated occurrences, and multiple affected individuals gives this case significant weight as more people come forward with consistent stories and health complaints.
Local news sources have begun to cover the incident widely, highlighting the growing pattern of urban public transport disruptions involving intentional chemical exposure. This case mirrors similar past events that have raised alarms globally, where masked individuals caused mass panic in confined spaces using unknown substances. The haunting image of a figure in a gas mask calmly unleashing something invisible but potent enough to make dozens ill is one that many commuters will not forget.
As reports continue to pour in, the story has also begun to draw attention from national media. Many are now urging the authorities to enhance security measures across public transportation, including the installation of more surveillance, increased patrolling, and the possibility of restricting access to certain substances that could be used for such acts.
In this context, it’s evident that the core of the public’s concern isn’t just about one man’s strange actions—it’s about a much broader fear of vulnerability while commuting. The way this incident was handled, the growing number of testimonies, and the mounting worry from everyday travelers are all adding to the pressure on law enforcement and transport officials to act swiftly and decisively.
So far, Antony Clements-Thrower and James Holt are among the first journalists to shed light on this unsettling episode, bringing forward credible accounts from real people whose health and peace of mind were directly affected. Their report has not only sparked wider awareness but also paved the way for more passengers to come forward and report what they experienced, in the hope that this situation will be addressed with the seriousness it clearly deserves.