A bus was hijacked and set alight on Monday morning in Belfast as armed men with masks on took control of the vehicle.
At approximately 6.30am, two masked and armed men boarded the bus and poured fuel over the vehicle before setting it alight, the PSNI have said.
The driver managed to get off the bus unharmed but has been left badly shaken by the incident.
Police are appealing for information following the hijacking of a bus in the Abbot Drive area of Newtownards this morning.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any information in relation to it, is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 444 of 01/11/21.
DUP Cllr Naomi Armstrong-Cotter told Belfast Live: "It is just shocking.
"The burning of the bus is disgraceful. Taking services out of our own community will never make sense to me."
Local sources are indicating to Belfast Live that the Northern Ireland Protocol was referenced during the incident by hijackers who 'poured fuel over the vehicle before setting it alight', leaving a bus driver badly shaken.
UUP leader Doug Beattie said the incident was: "Utterly disgraceful, depressing and stupid actions of thugs and criminals.
"In what way does this help address issues concerning the protocol? It simply hurts their own community. Wise up"
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