Major bomb-scare as frightened African passenger refuses to leave US bus

John Smolens was last night charged with resisting arrest for his behaviour after he got off the Maine-to-New York bus in Virginia. Another passenger, Calvin Segar, was charged with obstructing officers.

The standoff began on Thursday, when a passenger reported hearing another say a bomb was on the bus and called the police, who surrounded the bus.

The overheard man, who is from Burundi, refused to get off the bus for many hours. He will not be charged.

The emergency prompted authorities to evacuate buildings and streets in Portsmouth, Virginia, and to surround the bus with a bomb squad and marksmen.

The other 16 passengers and the driver alighted safely, but the Burundian refused to leave until about 8:40pm.

He emerged from the bus shirtless and in camouflage trousers, with his hands held high over his head.

He then went to his knees before getting up and appearing to follow orders from police to walk away from the bus.

He was taken into custody and was being questioned, but the case was not terrorism-related, said Portsmouth police chief David Ferland.

No explosives were found on the bus, which began its trip in Bangor, Maine, made a scheduled stop in Portsmouth and was en route to Boston and then New York City.

A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman said there was an "ongoing issue" and that the organisation was helping the investigation.