Man held after violence on motorway bus in Germany

A 30-year-old man has been accused of attempted murder in Germany after attacking passengers on a bus, in an incident that led to a major police operation on Tuesday evening, reported dpa.

The Serbian suspect allegedly hit two passengers on the bus - repeatedly stepping on the head of one of them, and punching another in the face - and issued death threats, according to Bavarian police on Wednesday.

Investigators said it had not developed into a hostage situation, as had been feared overnight.

The incident made instant headlines on Tuesday evening when police reported a "threatening situation" on a motorway linking Nuremberg and Munich and a possibly armed man who was still in the bus with other passengers.

Special police forces closed the motorway and arrested the suspect after the hours-long operation on the A9 motorway.

The man was not carrying a weapon, police said on Wednesday.

The possible motive of the suspect was not yet clear, and there were no indications that the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said.

There were 11 passengers and three bus drivers on the bus. It was on its way to Munich and was supposed to continue to Serbia.