A millionaire banker with reported links to several European royal families has been arrested in connection with one of Britain’s most infamous unsolved assaults nearly a decade after a woman was pushed into the path of a moving bus.
The arrest marks a dramatic breakthrough in the long-running investigation into the so-called “Putney Pusher” case, which shocked the country when CCTV footage emerged showing a jogger apparently shoving a woman into a busy road during the morning rush hour.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 44-year-old man was arrested on June 15 on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident on Putney Bridge in south-west London on May 5, 2017.
According to reports, detectives were able to make progress in the case after speaking to a former partner of the suspect, whose information is said to have played a key role in identifying him.
The suspect, who has not been publicly named, is understood to be a former British Army officer who now works in private banking.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “On Monday, June 15, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.
“The arrest relates to an incident on May 5, 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in Putney.
“Once in police custody, he was also arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs.
“He has since been bailed pending further investigation in relation to all offences.”
The attack became one of the most widely discussed unsolved cases in Britain after disturbing CCTV footage was released by police in August 2017.
The footage appeared to show a jogger suddenly veering towards a pedestrian before pushing her into the road directly in front of an approaching double-decker bus.
The victim, then aged 33, narrowly avoided being struck after bus driver Oliver Salbris reacted within seconds and swerved away from her.
Speaking shortly after the incident, Salbris told the Sunday Times: “If I hadn’t swerved, I would have smashed her head.”
He added: “It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.”
The woman survived without life-threatening injuries, but the incident triggered a major police investigation. Detectives reviewed large volumes of CCTV footage, appealed for information and examined dozens of potential suspects.
At one stage, a banker from Chelsea was arrested after being identified by members of the public following the release of the CCTV images. However, it later emerged he had been on holiday in California when the attack happened.
Police investigated around 50 people of interest during the lengthy inquiry, but the case was eventually closed in 2018 without any charges being brought.
Interest in the mystery remained strong over the following years, with the attack continuing to generate public fascination. In 2024, the case inspired a stage production titled Once Upon a Bridge, which explored the events surrounding the incident and renewed discussion about the identity of the attacker.
Now, nine years after the assault, detectives believe they may finally have identified the man at the centre of one of London’s most enduring unsolved mysteries.
The suspect remains on bail while police continue their investigation.
