Video shows teen setting woman's hair on fire on San Francisco bus

San Francisco police have revealed shocking footage of a teenager setting a woman's hair on fire on a bus in broad daylight.

The May 2 video shows the suspect casually approaching the woman and sitting directly behind her before appearing to reach out and repeatedly set her hair on fire with a lighter.

According to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), the teenager and two other persons of interest fled the scene toward the city's east side.

Other passengers on the bus then helped the woman, who was estimated to be between 50 and 60 years old.

Authorities released surveillance video to call on the victim to come forward and make a statement. When the incident took place, she left the scene before the police arrived.

Officers instead spoke to a bus driver who told them a passenger's hair had been set on fire by an unidentified suspect.

Below the video, social media users questioned why the attacker's face was blurred in the video, but SFPD spokesman Adam Lobsinger said investigators were currently focusing on the victim.

“We are still looking for the suspects,” Lobsinger told SFGATE. “Without the victim, when we catch the suspects, it is more difficult to do anything. »

The department released another photo of the victim as part of a call to locate her. Police said she had black hair and wore glasses.

The alleged suspect was wearing a red long-sleeved top with a colorful logo on the front, matching red pants and a black backpack.

SFPD noted that the incident was assigned to the SFPD Special Investigations Detail (SID). They asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at 1-415-575-4444.