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ASSAULT:

Queensway + Southport St

-On board TTC bus (4:05 pm)

-Passenger's hair set on fire by another

-With a lighter

-TTC holding

^dh — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) March 30, 2016

They were pure strangers.

Toronto police Const. Victor Kwong said the victim didn’t recognize the boy, who was sitting behind her, when she turned to confront him.

“They were pure strangers,” Kwong said. “The victim was a target because she happened to be sitting in front of this child who thought it would be a good idea to burn someone’s hair.”

The boy allegedly became defensive and threatened to hurt the girl.

During their argument, the bus driver had already smelled something burning and realized there was an assault taking place. The driver stopped the bus, reported the incident and police were called to the scene.

Neither the driver nor other passengers tried to stop the boy when he walked off the bus, Kwong said.

“He was in a very threatening and aggressive mood so no one kept him on the bus.”

The teenage girl wasn’t burned and suffered no serious injuries, police said.

In similar incidents, TTC spokesman Brad Ross said transit operators are only required to report the incident. The transit service doesn’t suggest its operators or riders attempt to confront anyone committing an assault.

“We don’t want our people or customers to engage with anyone,” Ross said. “They’re not police officers.”

Ross said the TTC instead helped the investigation by providing police with CCTV from the bus.

The boy was arrested and charged two days later. He was scheduled to appear at Old City Hall Court on Saturday.