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A bus passenger wearing a headscarf and ski goggles prompting most of the other passengers to get off over fears he was a terrorist.

The man boarded the No 38 service in Bristol with his face completely covered by the headscarf and green reflective goggles.

But after he casually sat down most of the of the other passengers got off at the next stop.

One passenger snapped a photo and posted it on the 'Spotted Bristol' Facebook page, sparking a fierce debate.

Sean Sully, who the man sat next to the bus from Bristol to Bath, said: "I got off five minutes later, wanted to say something but I didn't want him to push the button?"

Some argued that the man should not have been allowed on board with his entire head covered, with Rebecca Louise writing: "Why were they even allowed on like that?"

(Image: SWNS)

And Alexandra Mitchell said it was understandable if some people were afraid, writing: "Because of all the terrorism in the world at the moment, people are frightened.

"At the moment you are not safe anywhere, so when people see a man strangely dressed get on the bus they will be possibly panicked.

"We are a city where anything goes but in the present time we are very cautious, which is very sad and unless the government change their strategy this will not change."

Others defended the man, saying that people have the right to dress however they want and criticising other commenters for their closed-minded view.

(Image: SWNS)

"Some people are just different, you know," said Freddie Williams. "It shames me to read these comments, as Bristol is one of the best cities in the UK for culture, art, music and diversity of others."

Keziah Pitt added that "the media" had made it "impossible to look any other way than 'normal'", writing: "Was anyone attacked or blown up by this 'weirdo'? No? Great."

Another Facebook user said it was clearly a test to see how people would react, while Richard Morton suggested he might be a Muslim cross-dresser.